Epidermal cells highly vacuolated

No intercellular spaces

Adaxial (upper) & abaxial (lower) epidermises are different

As seen here in cross-section of soybean (Glycine max) leaf, the epidermal cells form a continuous layer over both surfaces. In contrast to mesophyll cells, they appear to be empty. In fact, more than 90% of their internal contents is due to a large central vacuole. In mesophyll cells there is a very thin layer of cytoplasm around the periphery of the cell, and plastids, mitochondria and nucleus are confined to a region adjacent to the inner tangential cell wall. This only occurs in guard cells of the epidermis. Typically, chloroplasts are blocked in their growth and multiplication in epidermal cells with the exception of stomatal guard cells.

Epidermal cells from the adaxial and abaxial epidermal layers may have significantly different size and shapes. With close observation, nuclei may be observed in some of the epidermal cells shown here.