Leaves have tiny air doors guarded by guard cells. In many plants, subsidiary cells stand right beside them as helpers!
Drag to turn it around. Use the buttons to zoom in and try things from the lessons.
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On the skin of a leaf there are tiny holes called stomata. Each hole has two guard cells around it that open and close it.
In many plants, the guard cells have neighbors that look different from the rest of the leaf skin. These are subsidiary cells. They sit right beside the guard cells, one on each side or in a little ring.
You can see them clearly in grasses like corn and wheat.
Press Open the door on the 3D model to open the stoma between the guard cells.
Guard cells open the door by filling up with water, and close it by letting water out. Subsidiary cells help by trading water and salts back and forth with the guard cells, a bit like teammates passing a ball.
In grasses, scientists found that this teamwork helps the doors open and close faster. That lets the leaf take in air for making food while saving water.
A single leaf can have thousands of these tiny doors, and each one has its own little team of cells.
By Tender Intellects. A fun video for kids.
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