Stomata: Microscopic pores on the surface of the leaves (usually underside) that are the breathing apparatus of the plant. They regulate gas exchange (O2 and CO2) and transpiration.
Vascular System of plants: It consists of three distinct tissues namely Xylem, Cambium and Phloem.
Xylem (most relevant): moves water up from roots to leaves driven by evaporation pulling water upward (like sucking through a straw). These cells are dead and the flow is only in one direction.
Phloem: moves sugars around (source to sink. Flow can move bidirectionally.
Cambium: ring of dividing cells that produce new Xylem and Phloem as plant grows thicker.
Definitions
Ecological traits: are features in a particular species that indicate a function or the performance of that function which can be compared with other species. Example: size of the leaf, Stomata, rooting depth etc.
Water Potential: It is a measure of free energy available to do work
Flow Velocity
The flow velocities in the xylem can be estimated by the Hagen-Poiseuille equation.
vf,xylem=Kf8νLr2Δψ
where,
