Epidermis

-the outermost layer of the primary plant body -covers the leaves, floral parts, fruits, seeds, stems and roots - generally only one layer thick with cuticle -composed mostly of unspecialized cells, either parenchyma and/or sclerenchyma -contains different types of modifications.
Cuticle Trichomes Stomata buIIiform ceIIs (in grasses)

Structure of epidermis

1. Cuticle

- Lines the outer waII of the epidermal ceIIs - made up of waxy material that protects plants from desiccation

2. Stomata - pores for gas exchange - present on one or both surfaces of Leaves
epidermaI ceII Inner waII of the guard ceII nucIeus stomataI pore chIoropIast

3. Trichomes outgrowths of epidermal ceIIs

Parenchyma
are the general purpose ceIIs of plants cells are rounded in shape & have uniformly thin walls found in all parts of the plants. living at maturity, have large vacuoles found in the soft parts of the plant such as cortex of roots, ground tissues in stems & mesophyll of leaves also distributed in pith, medullary rays & packing tissue in xylem & phloem.

Parenchyma tissue

Functions of parenchyma tissue

Parenchyma serves as a packing tissue to fill the spaces between other tissues & maintain the shape & firmness of the plant due to its turgid cells. Due to turgidity, parenchyma forms the main means of support to the stem of herbaceous plants. The main function of parenchyma is to store & assimilate food. Parenchyma serves as food storage tissue . Transport of materials occurs through cells or cell walls of parenchyma cells. Parenchyma cells are metabolically active; their intercellular air spaces allow gaseous exchange.