Which term refers to the evaporation of water from plant surfaces?

• A. water cycle
• B. transpiration
• C. precipitation
• D. open water

Answer: (B)

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plant surfaces, mainly through the tiny openings called stomata on leaves. Water absorbed by the roots travels up the plant via the xylem, and when the stomata are open to allow gas exchange for photosynthesis, water vapor exits to the air. This plant-based evaporation is a key part of how water moves through ecosystems and helps drive water transport within the plant itself. The other terms refer to different parts of the water cycle or to evaporation from non-plant sources: the water cycle is the global movement of water, precipitation is rain or snow that falls to the surface, and open water describes evaporation from bodies like lakes or oceans, not from plant tissues.