What Is the Significance of Transpiration?

Abstract

There is marked disagreement among botanists concerning the significance of transpiration. A large majority of advanced students assume that transpiration is highly beneficial. A few, however, including the author, consider it to be of little or no benefit. The disagreement and false ideas may be due to a tendency to study the process extensively without consideration of its significance. Possible effects of transpiration and supposed benefits often falsely ascribed to transpiration are discussed.