WAECBiologyAnatomy & Physiology

Excretion in plants happens via:

ARoots
BLeaves (stomata)CORRECT
CFlowers
DBark only
AI
Toaster Teacher
Why the answer is B, and why the others tempt you.
**The reasoning** Plants don't have specialized excretory organs like animals, but they still need to remove waste products like oxygen (from photosynthesis), carbon dioxide (from respiration), and water vapor. The **primary route** is through **stomata** — tiny pores on leaves that open and close. Through stomata, plants release excess O₂, CO₂, and water via transpiration and guttation. This is called gaseous exchange, but it doubles as excretion since these gases are metabolic wastes at certain times. **Why the wrong options tempt you** - **Roots**: They absorb materials, not excrete them (though some toxic substances can be stored there) - **Flowers**: Their job is reproduction, not waste removal - **Bark only**: While some plants deposit wastes in bark or shed leaves, it's not the *main* excretory pathway The trap is thinking "excretion = getting rid of solids," but in plants, it's mainly **gaseous waste through stomata**. **Quick takeaway** When plants "breathe out" through their leaf pores (stomata), they're also excreting waste gases — that's their main excretory system!
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