I keep getting “Transpiration pull” questions wrong in Transport in Plants. What's the trap?
thinking the roots push all the water up by themselves.
The usual trap: thinking the roots push all the water up by themselves. How to avoid it: leaves pull (transpiration) far more than roots push. Go back to the definition — water lost from leaves creates a suction that, thanks to water's cohesion, pulls a continuous column up the xylem.
Key point
Transpiration pull
Common mistake
thinking the roots push all the water up by themselves.
Memory tip
leaves pull (transpiration) far more than roots push.
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