Laboratory Activity 11

Morphology and Anatomy of Leaves

Name: _____________________________ Date Performed: ____________

Objectives: ____________________________________________________________
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Materials:

Microscope Aloe vera

Prepared slides of: Any fern
Ixora (or any dicot) leaf, cs Equisetum
Zea mays (or any monocot) leaf, cs Bambusa
Pine leaf, cs Bauhinia purpurea (alibangbang)
Fresh leaf specimens of: Plumeria acutifolia (kalachuchi)
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Bryophyllum pinnatum (kataka-taka)
Zea mays Moringa oleifera
Mimosa pudica Coleus blumei
Pisum sativum (sitsaro or
garden pea) Rhoeo spathacea
Pine tree or any conifer Ipomoea aquatica (kangkong)
Allium cepa Begonia
Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) Syngonium or Sagittaria
or Mussaenda(Doña Aurora) Caladium
Any cactus sp.
Anacardium occidentale (cashew) Clear nailpolish and clear stick tape, slides,
Eichornia crassipes (water lilies) cover slips

Procedure:

1. Examine the leaf samples brought in class and identify the base, stipules,
petiole, and lamina. For the monocot leaves, note the sheath, ligules, and
lamina.
2. Observe the cross-section of dicot leaf (Ixora) and identify: midvein, upper
and lower epidermis, palisade and spongy mesophyll, vascular tissue, and
bundle sheath. How can you tell the adaxial from the abaxial surface?
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 3. Examine the prepared slide of Zea mays and identify the different tissues
as you did for the dicot leaf. Is the distinction between palisade and
spongy mesophyll obvious ? ________________________

4. Observe a prepared slide of Pine leaf cross-section. Identify the tissues

including the single vein. Pine leaves exhibit a variety of adaptations
which include a) sunken stomata, b) an endodermis, and c) resin ducts.

5. Note also the variations in stomatal position in some of the plant specimens
examined. Strip off some cells from the upper and lower epidermis of the
following: Ixora, Hibiscus and Plumeria (kalachuchi). Classify the leaves of
these plants based on the location of the stomata (hypostomatic, epistomatic,
amphistomatic).
Ixora- ___________________________
Hibiscus- _______________________
Plumeria- _______________________

Many leaves like those of Ligustrum are hypostomatic with all or most
stomata on the shaded lower surface. Sunken stomata in Pinus and stomatal
crypts in Nerium oleander further reduce water loss. In Zea mays, the leaves
are amphistomatic, with both stomata occurring on both surfaces of the leaf.
In some aquatic plants, like Nymphaea(water lily), the leaves are epistomatic
with stomata on the upper surface.

6.Measuring stomatal density. Plants adapted to different environmental

conditions may have variable number of stomata on thesurface of the
leaves. Knowledge of stomatal density provides information on how plants
may exert control over their gas exchange rates by varying stomatal density
in new leaves when they are produced like for example in the spring or
summer. The higher the stomatal density, the more that water loss rate
and CO2 uptake are amplified.
a) Determine the stomatal density of Ixora and Rhoeo spathacea
following either the epidermal peel or theimpression method (using clear
nail polish). Since you are already familiar with the former, only the
impression method is discussed here. Spread a thin layer of clear nail polish
on the abaxial (lower epidermis) surface of the leaves. Allow the nail polish
to dry.
 b) Place a strip of clear stick tape over the nail polish. Press the tape
down to ensure that it adheres to the nail polish. Peel off the sticky tape.
The layer of nail polish should come off with the tape.
c) Place the tape with leaf impression on a clean blank slide. Use a
razor blade to trim the excess tape from the edge of the slide. Label your
slides. Examine under LPO or HPO.
d) Count the stomata in at least 3 fields of view (FOV). Record the
results in a table and calculate the stomatal density by using the ff.
formulas:

Stomatal density= the no. of stomata in entire FOV

Area of FOV in mm2
where Area of FOV = π r2
For a 10x ocular, the diameter of field of view for the LPO(10x) and HPO(40x) are
1.78 mm and 0.45 mm, respectively.

Note: Do not forget to calibrate the microscope for every change in magnification.

Table 13.1. Stomatal density (stomata/mm2) for Ixora and Rhoeo spathacea.
Plant sample Magnification FOV # No.of stomata Stomatal
(ocular x in entire FOV density
objective) (stomata/mm2)
Ixora 1
2
3
Rhoeo 1
2
3

7. Examine the leaf of a fern and note the following: leaflets, rachis, and
sori. Do you see any fiddlehead ? __________________________________

8. Draw leaf samples from the following plants and identify the leaf shape,
leaf margin, apex and base: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Ipomoea aquatica,
Bambusa, Bauhinia purpurea, Plumeria acutifolia, Moringa oleifera, Rhoeo
spathacea, Begonia, Syngonium or Sagittaria, Caladium, Anacardium occidentale
9. Identify the modified parts and specialized functions of leaves
from the following plants:

Plant species Modified part Specialized function

1.Mimosa pudica
2.Allium cepa
3.Bryophyllum pinnatum
4.Mussaenda
5.Aloe vera
6.Eichornia crassipes
7.Cactus
8.Pisum sativum
9.Pine tree

10.Draw the following and label:

a) cross-section of dicot leaf
b) cross-section of monocot leaf
c) Pine leaf, cs
d) Fern leaf, cs
e) Stomatal apparatus of Ixora, Plumeria and Hibiscus
Drawings:

Cross-section, dicot leaf Cross-section, monocot leaf

Pine leaf, cs Fern leaf, cs

Stomatal apparatus of Ixora Stomatal apparatus of Plumiera

 Shape: ________
Apex: __________
Base:___________
Stomatal apparatus of Hibiscus Specimen: __________________________

Shape: __________ Shape:__________

Apex: ___________ Apex:___________
Base:___________ Base:___________
Specimen:___________________________ Specimen:___________________________

Shape:___________ Shape:___________
Apex:____________ Apex:____________
Base:____________ Base:____________
Specimen: __________________________ Specimen:___________________________
Shape:__________ Shape:__________
Apex:___________ Apex:___________
Base:___________ Base:___________
Specimen:__________________________ Specimen:___________________________

Shape:___________ Shape:__________
Apex:____________ Apex:___________
Base:___________ Base:___________
Specimen:__________________________ Specimen:___________________________

Shape:___________ Shape:__________
Apex:___________ Apex:___________
Base:___________ Base:____________
Specimen:___________________________ Specimen: __________________________
Guide Questions:

1. Describe briefly:
a) succulent leaves-

b) sclerophyllous leaves-

c) evergreens-

2. Cite the adaptive importance of:

a) bud scales-

b) spines-

c) tendrils-

d) insect traps-

3. Explain briefly nyctinastic and thigmonastic movements in plants. Cite

examples of nyctinastic plants.
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Conclusion(s):
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