1. Transpiration is the loss of water by evaporation from aerial usually leafy parts of the plant. 2.

The three processes are root pressure, transpiration pull and capillary action. 3. The transpiration stream is the unbroken stream of water that flows upwards from roots to the leaves through the xylem. It is important because it provides water vital for life processes to the whole plant and in the water are dissolved substances that the plant requires too. The evaporation of the water also keeps the plant cool and stops it drying out. 4 and 5. There are 3 main factors that affect the rate of transpiration. The moisture level in the air, if there is high amount then the water potential is less and so less water will evaporation. Air movement around the leaves, this increases the evaporation and so the transpiration rate will increase. Heat is a large factor. The more energetic the water molecules the greater the rate they will evaporate, this will have an obvious increase in transpiration rate. 6. Transpiration occurs due to the release of water vapour. This can only happen if the water vapour can escape and it does this through the stomata which are designed for gaseous exchanged regarding photosynthesis. When this happens the forces of cohesion between water molecules mean that they are drawn up through the xylem. 7. The stomata are on the bottom of the leaf so to prevent the sun heating water vapour directly, the upper epidermis is often covered in a cuticle and so less water is lost through the top. Stomata close during the night when photosynthesis cant take place. And deciduous plants lose their leaves during the winter when there is less sunlight to photosynthesise and the ground may be frozen so making water uptake hard. 8 A xerophyte is a plant adapted to reduce water loss so it can survive in dry conditions very well. 9. Small leaves, often needle shaped. Reduced surface area means a reduced evaporation rate. Dense spongey mesophyll layer (the layer where most photosynthesis and water loss occurs) this reduces the amount of air the cells are exposed to and so prevents the water evaporating. Thicker, waxier cuticle to reduce evaporation further. Holly leaves are an example of leaves with a very waxy cuticle. Hairs on the surface of the leaf trap a layer of water laden air this reduces water vapour potential and so evaporation is reduced. Pits containing stomata at their base also trap air that can become saturated with water vapour. This reduces the water vapour potential gradient and again reduces evaporation. Rolling the leaves so the lower epidermis is not exposed to the atmosphere can trap air that becomes saturated and so make the water vapour potential gradient less. This reduces the evaporation.

Some plants keep the water potential very low in their leaves by filling the cells with salt. The water now would rather remain in the cells than evaporate this obviously reduces the evaporation rate. 10. Marram grass is adapted for living in sand dunes in many ways, the leaves are rolled up to trap air inside, it has a thick waxy cuticle to prevent evaporation. Other adaptations include hairs on the lower epidermis, along with the rolled up shape, reduce air movement and so evaporation decreases too. The stomata are situated in pits to trap moisture close to them and so reduce the amount that evaporates.