Water Movement into and through Tradescantia virginiana (L.) Leaves: I. UPTAKE DURING CONDITIONS OF DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM

Water uptake into the ventral epidermis and the other tissuesof excised T. virginiana leaves was measured separately andsimultaneously when the uptake rates were steady. It was foundthat uptake into the ventral epidermis was proportionately greater,compared with uptake into the remainder of a leaf, than wouldbe expected from the ratio of conductances of the two pathways.This result led to the conclusion that not only is the epidermisa pathway for water transport in the transpiration stream butthat it is an important site of evaporation for stomatal transpiration.