BioCoach Activity

Concept 4: Dermal Tissues

The dermal tissue system protects the soft tissues of plants and controls interactions with
the plants' surroundings.

The epidermis is a dermal tissue that is usually a single layer of cells covering the
younger parts of a plant. It secretes a waxy layer called the cuticle that inhibits water loss.

Some of the many types of cells in the epidermis are shown below.

Most epidermal cells lack

chloroplasts.

Guard cells contain

chloroplasts and regulate
gas exchange between the
inside of the leaf and the
surrounding air.

Epidermal hairs lower water

loss by decreasing the flow of
air over the plant surface, which
in turn, slows the loss of water
from the plant.

Glandular hairs prevent

herbivory by storing substances
that are harmful to insects.

Root hairs increase water uptake

by increasing the surface area of
the cell.

In older stems and roots,

the epidermis may be
replaced by the periderm,
which provides protection
while permitting gas
exchange.

The outer layer of periderm, cork tissue, is composed of dead cells whose cell walls are
impregnated with a waxy material, suberin.