Lab Work 1 EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY

Table 1. Variations in the different leaf parts

LEAF
SPECIMEN BASE TIP OUTLINE MARGIN VENATION
SURFACE
Saccharum
officinarum Decurrent Acuminate Linear Entire Parallel Glabrous
(Sugarcane)
Zea mays
Decurrent Acuminate Liner Entire Parallel Glabrous
(corn)
Bougainvillea
spectabilis Acute Acuminate Ovate Entire Pinnately Glabrous
(Bougainvillea)
Hedychium
Acute Acuminate Lanceolate Entire Pinnately Glabrous
(Hardy ginger)
Ophiopogon
jaburan Attenuate Spinose Linear Entire Parallel Glabrous
(Lily turf)
Coleus blumei
Rounded Acute Ovate Crenate Pinnately Pubescent
(Mayana)
Pisum sativum
Perfoliate Acute Ovate Entire Pinnately Pubescent
( Garden pea)
Psidium
guavaja Rounded Obtuse Elliptic Entire Pinnately Glabrous
(Guava)
Hibiscus rosa-
sinensis Oblique Acute Ovate Crenate Pinnately Glabrous
(Gumamela)
Rosa (Rose) Obtuse Spinose Ovate Serrate Pinnately Glabrous
Citrus grandis
Cuneate Attenuate Elliptic Entire Pinnately Glabrous
(Suha)
Ricinus
communis Sagittate Acuminate Pedate Denticulate Pinnately Glabrous
(Castor bean)
Centella
asiatica Peltate Rounded Reniform Crenate Glabrous
Pinnately
(Guto Kola)

Table 2. Morphological features of monocot and dicot leaves

CHARACTERS MONOCOT DICOT

Leaf stalk Absent Present

Leaf sheath Present Absent

Lamina or blade Parallel Reticulate

Venation Parallel Reticulate

Stipule Absent Present

Ligule Present Absent

Others: Leaf Appearance Long and slender Wide

Table 3. Specialization or modification in leaves

SPECIMEN LEAF MODIFICATION SPECIALIZED FUNCTION

Allium cepa Bulb scale Food storage
(Onion)
Aloe vera Spine –succulent Water and food storage

Asparagus Cladodes Photosynthesis

Bougainvillea spectabilis Bracts Attract pollinators
(Bougainvillea)
Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaflets Reproduction
(Katakataka)
Citrus microcarpa Spine Protection
(Calamansi)
Eicchornia crassipes Ovate (swollen petiole) Float in water
(Water hyacinth)
Euphorbia pulcherrima Bract Pollination
(Pointsettia)
Musa Bud scale Protect fruits
(Banana)
Mussaenda Bract Pollination
(Doña Aurora)
Nepenthes Pitcher Capturing prey
(Pitcher plant)
Opuntia/Nopalea Spine Water storage
(Prickly pear)
Paspalum Lemma Reproduction
( Crowngrass )
Pisum sativum Tendrils Support and climbing
( Garden pea)

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
1. What is a ligule? Where is it found in your specimen? Do you find it in both monocot and
dicot leaves? Any taxonomic value?

Ligule. (n.d.) defines a ligule as a structure which comes in a peculiar tongue-like outgrowth
from the leaf surface near the leaf base. It is located in between the blade and the sheath of the leaves
of the corn . Upon observation with the specimens, it was found out that ligules are only present
among monocots. This structure is highly significant in identifying grasses , sugarcane as well as
other monocots because of its different patterns and colors that can only be found once for every
specimen.
2. Do you find compound leaves only in dicot? Why?

No, compound leaves aren’t limited only in dicots rather they are also present in some
monocot plants since it is a type of leaf with regards to its form which can be applied to both
monocot and dicot. Palm trees and aroids are example of monocots that have compound leaves.
(Bharathan, G., & Sinha, N. R. , 2001)

3. Is there a significance of compound leaves relative to strong winds? How about to leaf-eating
animals? Justify your answer.

Yes, there is a significance of compound leaves with regards to strong winds. As stated by
Tulip Poplar. (n.d.),it can be seen from the arrangement of the leaves and their attachments that will
allow them to adjust their configurations and thus reduce their exposure and flutter as the wind
increases. One example of this wind-dependent reconfiguration, are the leaflets of a pinnately
compound leaf such as black walnut or black locust roll up around their axial rachis . While for the
leaf-eating animals, it depends upon the texture of the compound leaves .

REFERENCES
Bharathan, G., & Sinha, N. R. (2001, December 01). The Regulation of Compound Leaf
Development. Retrieved February 26, 2019, from
http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/127/4/1533
Ligule. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/science/ligule

Weak leaves deal with strong winds : Tulip Poplar. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2019, from
https://asknature.org/strategy/weak-leaves-deal-with-strong-
winds/#.XHVWAMAzbtQ