Problem
The epidermal surface of the shoots of land plants are covered with a waxy cuticle. The roots of vascular land plants lack a waxy cuticle on the epidermis, but instead have a waxy layer called the Casparian strip that surrounds their vascular column. Compare and contrast the function of the cuticle and the Casparian strip in plants, and in your answer explain why the roots lack a waxy layer on their epidermis.