Final answer:
The cuticle of a plant does not speed up water uptake by the roots but actually helps to minimize water loss through transpiration. The statement is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "The cuticle in a plant speeds water uptake by the roots" is false. The cuticle is a waxy, hydrophobic layer found on the aerial parts of plants, primarily leaves. Its primary function is to minimize water loss through transpiration, not to facilitate water uptake. Water is indeed absorbed by the plant through root hairs and is then transported upwards by a combination of negative water potential, cohesion, adhesion, and the process of transpiration from the leaves. However, the cuticle serves to reduce the rate of this water loss by providing a barrier to slow evaporation from the plant surfaces exposed to the air.