Transpiration
Transpiration is a continuous process caused by the
evaporation of water from
leaves of
plants and its corresponding uptake from
roots in the
soil. Transpiration cools plants down and enables
mass flow of
minerals to where it is needed in the plant. Mass flow is caused by the decrease in hydrostatic (water) pressure in the upper parts of the plants due to the diffusion of water out of
stomata in to the atmosphere. Water is absorbed at the roots by
osmosis, and any dissolved solutes travel with it in the
xylem.
See also