Do Plants Lose Water Through Their Leaves?
The process by which water enters a plant through its roots and exits through its leaves is called transpiration. Plants also release water in liquid form from healthy leaves and stems through a process called guttation, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Does this Spark an idea?
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Basics
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Transpiration is very similar to the evaporation that takes place when water leaves a lake or pond and moves into the atmosphere. About 10 percent of the atmosphere's moisture is the result of transpiration.
Function
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Water enters a plant through its roots, then moves up into the stems and leaves. Transpiration can be affected by the weather or by water used by people, and it can have a detrimental effect on moisture levels in the soil.
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Process
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Plants store water in small cells called stomata, and this is where the water exits the plant. The process takes place when sunlight causes the stomata to open and happens rapidly at high temperatures that speed up the evaporation process.
Benefits
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The water moving through a plant carries minerals from the soil which will be chemically changed into nutrients. The transpiration process also helps plants make their own food through the process known as photosynthesis, and it keeps plants cool during hot weather.
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References
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