Ej R.

Agsalda General Botany

BS BIO-1 BIO 5036

Journal No. 1
“The Gross Morphology and Structure of Leaves”

Abstract

This observational research activity show the similarities and differences of ten various
plants that can be found in the locality of Quirino province. This study also tends to determine
the Leaf morphology, Venation and the Phyllotaxy of the ten plants. Lastly the study also
recognized Katherine Esau an American-German Botanist and her major contributions in
plant morphology specifically on plant anatomy.

INTRODUCTION

What is plant morphology? Literally, the term ‘morphology’ is derived from two Geek
roots: morphe, which means form and/ or structure, and logos, meaning discourse or
investigation. Thus, plant morphology is the investigation of plant form and/ or structure. This
can be interpreted in either a narrow or broad sense (eg. Sattler, 1978). In the narrow sense,
morphology refers to only external form. In broad sense, it comprises form and structure at all
organizational levels, i.e. the form and structure of whole plants, organs, tissues, cells, cell
organelles, molecules, etc. Thus, morphology (sensu lato) includes anatomy and even structural
biochemistry.

Plant morphology is the physical appearance of a plant. It can be applied to any species
and involves a detailed study of vegetative and reproductive characters in order to form a profile
of a plant, which can be used to make general comparisons of plant species displaying a similar
structure or detailed comparisons within a species to identify varieties (cultivars). J. Wyatt
Module in Food Science, 2016. It represents a study of the development, form, and structure of
plants, and, by implication, an attempt to interpret these on the basis of similarity of plan and
origin. Jin JP; et al. (July 2015).

The purpose of this study is three fold: (1) to determine the phyllotaxy, leaf morphology
and venation of 10 different plant leaves. (2) To enumerate at least 3 importance for each of the
following: phyllotaxy, leaf morphology and venation. (3) To identify 1 botanist that contributed
to leaf morphology.
MATERIALS

Table 1.1 List of Materials

Materials Quantity Cost
Scotch tape 1 -
Scissor 1 -
Flash light 1 -
Container 1 -
Phone/Camera 1 -

Table 1.2 Protective Equipment’s

Protective Equipment Quantity Cost
Face Mask 1 -
White Gloves 1 -

Table 1.3 List of Collected Specimens

Leaves
Common Names Scientific Name
Oregano Origanum Vulgare
Bayabas (Guava) Psidium guajava
Malunggay (Horseradish) Moringa oleifera
Ipil-ipil Leucaena leucocephala
Kawayan (Bamboo) Bambusoideae
Guyabano (Soursop) Annona muricata
Ampalaya (Bitter gourd) Momordica charantia
Kamias Averrhoa bilimbi
Papaya Carica papaya
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea glabra

PROCEDURE

Gathering of Sample
 Healthy and disease-free leaves of the plant were carefully collected
 The leaf samples are washed to avoid skin irritations

Making DIY Light Microscope

 The material that are present in table 1.1 are used in order to visibly see the specimens
leaf morphology and venation
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 2.1 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Origanum Vulgare)

Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Cordate

Opposite Leaf Type: Simple Reticulate
(whorled arrangement) Leaf Margin: Dentate
Table 2.1 shows that the oregano (Origanum vulgare), a bushy, rhizomatous, woody-
branched perennial which typically grows to 1-3' tall and to 2' wide on square stems clad with
aromatic, glandular-spotted, rounded to ovate leaves (to 1 1/2” long). The first image of the plant
shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image shows the morphology of the plant and the
last image shows the leaf venation of the plant.

Table 2.2 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Psidium guajava)

Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Elliptical

Opposite Superposed Leaf Type: Pinnately Pinnate
Compound
 Leaf Margin: Entire

Table 2.2 shows that bayabas (Psidium guajava) is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the
family Myrtaceae grown for its edible fruits. Guava has a slender trunk with smooth green to
red-brown bark. The first image of the plant shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image
shows the morphology of the plant and the last image shows the leaf venation of the plant.

Table 2.3 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Moringa oleifera)

Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Ovate

Opposite Leaf Type: Trifoliate Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Table 2.3 shows that malunggay (Moringa oleifera) is a much-branched small tree
growing as high as 9 meters, with a soft and white wood and corky and gummy bark. Leaves are
alternate, usually thrice pinnate, 25 to 50 centimeters long. Each compound leaf contains 3-9
very thin leaflets dispersed on a compound (3 times pinnate) stalk. The first image of the plant
shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image shows the morphology of the plant and the
last image shows the leaf venation of the plant.
Table 2.4 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Leucaena leucocephala)
Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Linear Oblong

Opposite Leaf Type: Double Pinnate
Compound
Leaf Margin: Entire
Table 2.4 shows that ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) is a small tree growing up 8
meters high. Leaves are compound, 15 to 25 centimeters long, with hairy rachis. The first image
of the plant shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image shows the morphology of the
plant and the last image shows the leaf venation of the plant.

Table 2.5 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Bambusoideae)

Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Linnear

Alternate Subulate Parallel
Leaf Type: Simple
Leaf Margin: Entire
 Table 2.5 Shows that Bamboo (Bambusoideae) are evergreen perennial flowering plants
in the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Similar to grass, bamboo is
characterized by a jointed stem called a culm. Typically the culms are hollow but some species
of bamboo have solid culms. Each culm segment begins and ends with a solid joint called a
node. . The first image of the plant shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image shows
the morphology of the plant and the last image shows the leaf venation of the plant.

Table 2.6 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Annona muricata)

Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Obovate

Alternate Leaf Type: Simple Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Entire

Table 2.6 shows that Guyabano (Annona muricata) is a small tree, usually less than 7
meters high. Leaves are smooth, glossy, shiny, oblong-obovate to oblong, 7 to 20 centimeters in
length, pointed on both ends, with petioles about 5 millimeters long. The first image of the plant
shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image shows the morphology of the plant and the
last image shows the leaf venation of the plant.
Table 2.7 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Momordica charantia)
Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Palmate

Alternate Leaf Type: Simple Cross-Venulate
Leaf Margin: Serrate,
Lobate
Table 2.7 shows that Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) is a climbing vine, nearly or
quite smooth, annual vine. Tendrils are simple, up to 20 centimeters long. Leaves are 2.5 to 10
centimeters in diameter, cut nearly to the base into 5 to 7 lobes, oblong-ovate, variously toothed,
and heart-shaped at the base. The first image of the plant shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The
second image shows the morphology of the plant and the last image shows the leaf venation of
the plant.

Table 2.8 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Averrhoa bilimbi)

Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Lanceolate

Opposite Leaf Type: Simple Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Entire
 Table 2.8 shows that Kamias (Averrhoa bilimbi) is a small tree, growing 5 to 12 meters
high. Leaves are pinnate, 20 to 60 centimeters long, with hairy rachis and leaflets. Leaflets are
opposite, 10 to 17 pairs, oblong, 5 to 10 centimeters in length. . The first image of the plant
shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image shows the morphology of the plant and the
last image shows the leaf venation of the plant

Table 2.9 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Carica papaya)

Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Palmate

Spiral Leaf Type: Simple Palmate
Leaf Margin: Crenate at the
tips
Table 2.9 shows that Papaya (Carica papaya) is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually
with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 m (16 to 33 ft) tall, with spirally arranged leaves
confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is conspicuously scarred where leaves and fruit
were borne. The first image of the plant shows the Phyllotaxy of the plant. The second image
shows the morphology of the plant and the last image shows the leaf venation of the plant.
Table 3.0 Phyllotaxy, Leaf Morphology and Venation (Bougainvillea glabra)
Phyllotaxy Leaf Morphology Venation

Leaf Shape: Ovate,

Alternate Lanceolate Pinnate
Leaf Type: Simple
Leaf Margin: Entire
Table 3.0 shows that Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) grows as a woody vine or
shrub, reaching 15 to 40 feet (4.6 to 12.2 m) with heart-shaped leaves and thorny, pubescent
stems. The flowers are generally small, white, and inconspicuous, highlighted by several brightly
colored modified leaves called bracts. The first image of the plant shows the Phyllotaxy of the
plant. The second image shows the morphology of the plant and the last image shows the leaf
venation of the plant.
 Personal Life and Education
Katherine Esau was born on April 3, 1898 in Yekaterinoslav,
Russian Empire (now Dnipro, Ukraine) to a family of Mennonites
of German descent, so-called "Russian Mennonites". She began
studying agriculture in Moscow, but after a year her family was
prompted by the Bolshevik Revolution to move to Germany where
she completed her studies at the Agricultural College of Berlin.
The Esau family moved to California in 1922, where Esau worked
for the Spreckels Sugar Company on sugar beet resistance to curly
top virus. She resumed her education at the University of
California, Davis, where she achieved her doctorate in 1931,
joined the faculty, and remained until her retirement at age 67.
Career
Esau was a pioneering plant anatomist and her books Plant Anatomy (1953) and Anatomy of
Seed Plants (1977) were key plant structural biology texts for four decades. Her early work in
plant anatomy focused on the effect of viruses on plants, specifically on plant tissue and
development. Esau worked at the University of California, Davis as a teacher and later a
professor of Botany. While teaching, she continued her research on viruses and specifically
phloem, the food conducting tissue in plants. In the 1950s, she collaborated with botanist Vernon
Cheadle on more phloem research. Her treatise The Phloem (1969) was published as Volume 5
of the Handbuch der Pflanzenanatomie. This volume has been recognized as the most important
of the series and was a definitive source of information about phloem. In 1963, she was
promoted to full professor at Davis. After retiring from the University of California, Davis, she
moved to the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1965, and continued research well into
her 90s, publishing a total of 162 articles and five books.
Recognitions
She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1949.
In 1951 she was President of the Botanical Society of America.
In 1956 the Botanical Society of America awarded her a Certificate of Merit in its Golden
Jubilee celebrations.
In 1957, she was the sixth woman elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
In 1962 she was awarded an honorary degree by Mills College, Oakland.
In 1989, President George Bush awarded Esau the National Medal of Science.
GENERALIZATION
By conducting this observational research activity, I learned few scientific names of the
different classes of plant that I observed. Also I learned the different arrangement of the plants
leaf, leaf venation and types of leaves. The results of the activity taught me that there’s a big
difference in conducting observation activities by your own rather that with the help of internet.
Through my own observation, I observed that there are similarities and difference between each
specimens like the simple leaves with the same venation and margins. This leads me to greater
ideas on how plant taxonomist classify plants according to their species and phyla. The unique
characteristics of each plant that I observed made me realize that plants don’t have to have big
green leaves in order to be considered as a plant. Many plants have small leaves that have more
unique characteristics than plants with big leaves. I also like to add that studying Phyllotaxy
helps us to identify plants i.e. two plants but one has different leaf arrangements and other
different. Then this difference is cane from leaves and to say what type of leaf those plants has it
comes under study of leaves arrangements which is Phyllotaxy. Lastly my realization concludes
that studying Plant Morphology is very important in order to classify plant organisms into
broader groups. I learned so much in classifying plant leaves thanks to this wonderful activity.

REFERENCES
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Botany/Book
%3A_Red_Seal_Landscape_Horticulturist_Identify_Plants_and_Plant_Requirements_(Nakano)/
01%3A_Plant_Identification/1.13%3A_Introduction_to_Plant_Morphology
https://biocyclopedia.com/index/plant_morphology.php#:~:text=Plant%20morphology%20(or
%20phytomorphology)%20is,especially%20at%20the%20microscopic%20level.
http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/esau-katherine.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Esau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainvillea_spectabilis
http://www.stuartxchange.org/Guyabano#:~:text=Guyabano%20is%20a%20small%20tree,%2C
%20yellow%20or%20greenish%2Dyellow.
http://www.stuartxchange.org/Ampalaya#:~:text=Ampalaya%20is%20a%20climbing
%20vine,heart%2Dshaped%20at%20the%20base.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/carica-papaya
http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kamias.html#:~:text=Kamias%20is%20a%20small
%20tree,15%20centimeters%20long%20or%20less.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?
taxonid=281411#:~:text=Origanum%20vulgare%2C%20commonly%20known%20as,sometimes
%20have%20slightly%20toothed%20margins.
http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/bayabas.htm#:~:text=Bayabas%20or%20guava
%20tree%20grows,contained%20in%20a%20yellowish%20pulp.
Stuartxchange.org/Malungay
APPENDICES
Figure 1. Materials used in creating DIY Microscope

Figure 2. Preparing the leaves to be washed in the plastic cointainer