This appears to be unlikely since we have found apparently identical structures in the mesophyll cells of wheat, Triticum dicoccum var. ‘Khapli’.

“When we applied mechanical pressure to the exposed site, we found that this was enough to downregulate ATML1 expression in the outermost mesophyll cells,” says Shinobu Takada, senior author.

Spongy mesophyll close spongy mesophyllThe plant tissue in a leaf which has loosely packed cells and air spaces between them to allow gas exchange. tissue is packed loosely for efficient gas exchange.