Term:

Epidermal cells

Definition:

Referring to the outermost cells of the adaxial and abaxial leaf blade surfaces which are covered by cuticle. Subsidiary cells surround the stomates and are distinguished from normal epidermal cells in their size, shape, or orientation. A stomatal type in which the cells surrounding the guard cells are not differentiated from the epidermal cells is called the anomocytic type.

Notes:

In neotropical Lecythidaceae, most epidermal cells have straight-sided cell walls as seen in paradermal view but a few species of wavy cells wall.