What Structures Are in Cider Gum That Carry Out Photosynthesis?

The Cider Gum

• Eucalyptus gunnii, known to most as the cider gum, is a species of eucalyptus native to Tasmania. It is a kind of evergreen tree that grows to a small to medium size. Its bark is thin and gray for several meters, or sheds all over to leave a smooth yellowish surface. The cider gum's leaves are stalked, gray-green and thick. During summer, the cider gum also produces white flowers. Unlike most eucalyptus trees, the cider gum can tolerate cold environments, and is often planted as an ornamental tree in Britain and western Europe.

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis is a natural process by which organisms convert light energy to food. Plants perform photosynthesis by absorbing water and carbon dioxide and converting them to glucose and oxygen. Because of the complicated nature of this chemical conversion, plants possess specialized cellular structures that accomplish different tasks. When the sun is up during the day, plants absorb sunlight and store the energy in special molecules. During the nighttime, this energy is then used to produce glucose, or sugar.

Chloroplasts and Chlorophyll

• Plants use a special type of cellular structure called a chloroplast to carry out photosynthesis. Chloroplasts contain objects called thylakoids within their membranes; these thylakoids are the units that actually performs photosynthesis. Inside thylakoids are pigment molecules called chlorophyll which absorb most colors of light besides green. This is the reason plants look green; because they contain lots of chlorophyll, they reflect green light. During the daytime, these chlorophyll molecules absorb light energy for other parts of the chloroplast to use to produce glucose.

Leaves

• For most plants, leaves are a special structure optimized to carry out photosynthesis. The cider gum is no exception: its leaves are full of cells used to maximize photosynthetic efficiency. Water and carbon dioxide enter the leaf through pores, and cells within contain lots of chlorophyll to absorb light energy. Special tubes called xylem and phloem are located deeper inside the leaf, and they carry sugar and water to the rest of the plant.