Mature oak tree leaves

You decide to use the slide of mature oak leaves. Prof. Collins looks your way and comes to observe.

Prof. Collins: I see that you decided to use the oak leaves to observe mitosis. Do you think that this is the best choice?

Elisabeth: I actually think that this is a bad choice. If I remember correctly mature oak tree leaves are not actively undergoing mitosis. Once leaves reach maturity, they primarily engage in functions such as photosynthesis, gas exchange, and transpiration.

Prof. Collins: That’s right Elisabeth. While there may be some cell division occurring in specific regions of the leaf, such as the leaf margins for repair or renewal, the overall mitotic activity is minimal compared to actively growing tissues. Therefore, observing mitosis in mature oak tree leaves would be challenging and unreliable.

You: OK Professor we will consider one of the other two options.

Which specimen do you think would be most appropriate to observe mitosis?