Which of the following plant structures lacks a waterproof cuticle?
Answer Details
A plant structure that lacks a waterproof cuticle is the root.
The cuticle is a waxy layer that covers the outer surface of leaves and stems in plants, which helps to prevent water loss. However, roots are usually buried in soil, and they do not need a cuticle to prevent water loss since soil provides moisture to the roots. In fact, roots often have tiny root hairs that increase their surface area for absorbing water from the soil. Therefore, roots do not have a waterproof cuticle like leaves and stems.