Transpiration Online Lab

(Please ignore the horrible formatting)

Journal questions:
Describe the process of transpiration in vascular plants.
Xylem pushes the water through the stem up to the leaves using cohesion. The water evaporates from the leaves, and adhesion moves the next water molecule to the surface so it can evaporate next.
Describe any experimental controls used in the investigation.
Controls would be the time used for transpiration.
What environmental factors that you tested increased the rate of transpiration? Was the rate of transpiration increased for all plants tested?
The environmental factors are wind, temperature, and light. The rate increased for all of the plants with the fan and heater, but didn't for Dieffenbachia, Rubber Plant, the Weeping Fig, and the Zebra Plant with the lamp.
Did any of the environmental factors (heat, light, or wind) increase the transpiration rate more than the others? Why?
The wind increased the transpiration rate the most because it blows the water off of the leaves.
Which species of plants that you tested had the highest transpiration rates? Why do you think different species of plants transpire at different rates?
Rubber Plant had the highest transpiration rates because the experimental conditions are closer to its ideal environment. Plants transpire more slowly to conserve water, so its an adaptation to dry environments, while plants with fast transpiration come from more wet environments.
Suppose you coated the leaves of a plant with petroleum jelly. How would the plant's rate of transpiration be affected?
It would be slower because there would be something between the leaves and the air that makes it harder for the water to evaporate.
Of what value to a plant is the ability to lose water though transpiration?
It's very important, because it provides energy, cools the plants, and provides water throughout the stem and leaves.