the hardware of the system is the console and the leaf chamber (the sensor head). the leaf chamber has tightly sealed gaskets that do not interact with h2o or co2 nor are deformed excessively by the leaf midribs. It also houses a PAR light sensor parallel to the leaf plane, a thermocouple,and a speed-variable mixing fan. The sensor head encloses a leaf surface of up to 6 cm2 and has integrated sensors for monitoring light, temperature,h2o and co2 levels.