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Maybe leaves evolved these microscopic "needles" in order to increase their surface area, because this would help photosynthesis for 2 reasons: 1. More surface
by mrb 12y ago
Maybe leaves evolved these microscopic "needles" in order to increase their surface area, because this would help photosynthesis for 2 reasons:
1. More surface area = better ability to capture carbon dioxide from the air.
2. More surface area = heatsink effect = reduced heating under the sun (photosynthesis is less efficient under too much heat[1]).
The fact that these "needles" also create a superhydrophobic effect would just be a side effect.
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21029116 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21029116
- aatish 12y agoHi. The needles are wax structures that protrude from the leaf, they aren't part of the leaf. So the added surface area doesn't absorb any air, and I doubt it helps in evaporative cooling either.