Kranz anatomy

Kranz anatomyFig. 201 Kranz anatomy. Transverse section through leaf.

Kranz anatomy

the special structure of leaves in C4 PLANTS (e.g. maize) where the tissue equivalent to the spongy mesophyll cells is clustered in a ring around the leaf veins, outside the bundle-sheath cells. (The term ‘Kranz’ means wreath or ring in German). The bundle-sheath cells contain large CHLOROPLASTS whereas the spongy mesophyll cells have few if any chloroplasts, unlike their counterparts in C3 plants (see MESOPHYLL).