Stomatal distribution is observed only on the upper surface of the leaf in

Options

A. Submerged hydrophytes
B. Floating hydrophytes
C. Emergent hydrophytes
D. All the above

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Stomatal Distribution**: Stomata are small openings on the surface of leaves that allow for gas exchange. In most plants, stomata can be found on both the upper and lower surfaces of leaves. However, some plants have stomata only on one side.

2. **Identifying Types of Hydrophytes**: The question refers to hydrophytes, which are plants that grow in water. There are three main types of hydrophytes:
- **Submerged Hydrophytes**: These plants are completely underwater and have no contact with the atmosphere.
- **Floating Hydrophytes**: These plants float on the water's surface, with their roots submerged but leaves exposed to the air.
- **Emergent Hydrophytes**: These plants have their roots in the water but extend above the water surface.

3. **Analyzing Each Type of Hydrophyte**:
- **Submerged Hydrophytes**: Since these plants are entirely underwater, they do not have stomata on their leaves. Therefore, they cannot be the answer.
- **Emergent Hydrophytes**: Although these plants have some part above water, they typically have stomata on both surfaces of their leaves, making them unsuitable for this question.
- **Floating Hydrophytes**: These plants have stomata only on the upper surface of their leaves, as their leaves are exposed to the atmosphere while their roots are submerged in water.

4. **Conclusion**: Based on the analysis, the correct answer to the question is that stomatal distribution is observed only on the upper surface of the leaf in **floating hydrophytes**.

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