Leaf? Stomata and air spaces?... (HELP!)?

Question

How do the stomata and air spaces in the spongy parenchyma work together to help the leaf survive?

Answer 1

i believe that is where CO2 enters and O2 leaves.

Answer 2

The spongy mesophyll creates an area of gas exchange. The stomata provide an [regulated] opening from this area to the outside environment. Since the spongy mesophyll is a rather damp place, water can be lost through the stomata if they could not close at need. However, they need to be open for normal transpiration and respiration.

A couple processes have evolved to sidestep the problem of water loss when leaves should be "breathing." C4 plants use bundle and sheath cells to physically separate the processes; CAM plants separate the processes chemically and temporally. (...This is why pinapples picked in the late afternoon are sweeter.)

Answer 3

spongy parenchyma is a name for one of the many plant tissues.

Within this, we have the stomata. They open and close. When they are open, the plant takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. The plant will close its stomata to reduce water loss.

The closing of the stomata is controlled by the diffusion of pottassium (K) ions in and out of the guard cells surrounding stomata. (The stomata is basically a small 'hole' in the leafs surface). Lots of potassium ions in the guard cell and the stomata will be open, few potassium ions and the stomata will close, reducing transpiration.