LEAF

Origin of Leaves
Leaf primordia
• Outgrowths of the apical meristem in terminal
& lateral buds
• Give rise to matured leaves
• Its position in the bud determines the relative
position of leaves on the stem
• The first pair of leaves (primary leaves) are
produced during the development of the seedling
 Leaf Morphology
Petiole ~ stalk connecting the leaf blade to
the node of the stem
Blade ~ broad, flat, photosynthetic portion of
a leaf divided into:
a. veins – vascular tissues within a
leaf located on both sides
of the midrib
b. midrib – narrow, thickened
structure
- continuation of the
petiole
- divides the blade into 2
halves
 Stipule ~ small, paired leaf-
like structures at the base
of the leaf stalk

Leaf Sheath ~ base of the

leaf blade that completely
encircles the portion of the
internodal segment of the
stem
~ present among grasses
 Types of Leaves
A. As to Composition

1. Simple leaves ~ w/ 1 blade per petiole

2. Compound leaves ~ w/ 2 or more
blades (leaflets) on a common petiole
~ the stalk of each leaflet is called
petiolule & the extension of petiole is
called rachis
 B. As to the Number of leaflets

1. unifoleate – rose, gumamela

2. bifoleate – powder puff
3. trifoleate - sitao
4. quadrifoleate – Cassia fistula
 C. As to Venation

1. Parallel ~ veins run parallel to each
other
a. parallel to the midrib
b. parallel at acute angle or radial to
the midrib
c. parallel at right angle or
perpendicular to the midrib
 2. Netted venation ~ veins form a
network over the blade
a. pinnately netted – w/ 1 main vein
forming networks over the
blade
b. palmately netted – w/ several
main veins extending from the
base of the leaf
c. radiately netted – w/ several main
veins radiating from the tip of the petiole
D. As to Attachment
1. Pinnately compound leaves ~ w/ rachis
where the leaflets are attached
a. simple pinnate leaves ~ w/ 1 primary
rachis
a.1. odd simple pinnate leaves ~
terminates w/ an odd end
leaflets
a.2. even simple pinnate leaves ~
terminates w/ an even end
leaflets
 b . b i p i n n a t e l e a v e s ~ t h e p r i m a r y
r a c h i s b r a n c h e d & e a c h o f t h e
b r a n c h e s ( s e c o n d a r y r a c h i s )
bears 2 rows of leaflets

c. tripinnate leaves ~ the secondary

r a c h i s p r o d u c e s b r a n c h l e t s w / c
bears the leaflets

2. Palmately compound leaves ~ leaflets are

attached at a common point at the tip of the
petiole
E. As to Leaf Arrangement
1. Alternate: One leaf per node.
Oaks, balete, caimito have
alternate leaves.
2. Basal: All the leaves coming
from the base. Tulips have
basal leaves.
3. Equitant: Overlapping one
another into two vertical rows or
ranks, forming a fan, as the
leaves of irises.
4. Fascicled: Clustered, as in
most species of pine.
5. Imbricate: Overlapping one
another. The leaves of Norfolk
Island pine (Araucaria
heterophylla) are imbricate.
6. Opposite: Borne across from
one another at the same node;
paired. Maples, santan, kape
have opposite leaves.
7. Rosulate: Arranged in a basal
rosette, with little or no stem.
Sedums have rosulate leaves.
8. Whorled: With three or more
leaves at the same node,
arranged in whorls
F. As to Leaf Shape/Blade outline
1. Deltoid (deltate): About the same
length as width. Shaped like a triangle
in which all sides are the same length.
Achuete
2. Elliptic: One and a half to two times
longer than wide. Shaped like a narrow
oval. The margins are symmetrically
curved, and the leaf is widest at the
middle. Chestnuts (Castanea species);
caimito, katakataka, avocado,
sampaguita
3. Lanceolate: Three to six times longer
than wide. Shaped like the tip of a
lance. The margins are symmetrically
curved, and the leaf is widest toward
the base. Willows (Salix species) ;
kamantigue
4. Linear: More than twelve times
longer than wide. Long and narrow
with more or less parallel margins.
Most grasses have linear leaves.
5. Oblong: One and a half to two times
longer than wide. Similar to elliptic but
the margins are parallel, not curved.
Willow oak (Quercus phellos) has
oblong leaves; duhat, tamarind &
katakataka
6. Ovate: One and a half to two times
longer than wide. Shaped like an egg.
The margins are symmetrically
curved, and the leaf is widest below
the middle. Beaked hazelnut (Corylus
cornuta); gumamela, mayana
G. As to Leaf Margin
1. Ciliate: With hairs along
the margin.
2. Crenate: With low, rounded
teeth that have no point.
3. Dentate: With teeth along
the margin that are pointed
outward from the margin.
Similar to serrate, but in
serrate the teeth are pointed
at least slightly upward
towards the tip.
4. Double serrate: With
serrate teeth along the
margins of other, larger
serrate teeth.
5. Entire: Without any
indentations or teeth.
6. Serrate: With teeth along
the margin that are pointed
upwards towards the tip of
the leaf.
7. Undulate: With a wavy
margin.
H. As to Leaf Apex
1. Acuminate: A sharp apex with less
than a 90 degree angle and concave
sides.
2. Acute: Similar to acuminate but with
straight to convex sides.
3. Apiculate: Similar to mucronate in
that it ends in a sharp point but the
point includes tissue from the midvein
and the lamina.
4. Aristate: Ending in a hard,bristle-
shaped tip.
5. Caudate: Very acuminate, with a long
and thin tip.
6. Cuspidate: A form of acuminate in
which the tip tapers gradually to a
point.
H. As to Leaf Apex
1. Acuminate: A sharp apex with less
than a 90 degree angle and concave
sides.
2. Acute: Similar to acuminate but with
straight to convex sides.
3. Apiculate: Similar to mucronate in
that it ends in a sharp point but the
point includes tissue from the midvein
and the lamina.
4. Aristate: Ending in a hard,bristle-
shaped tip.
5. Caudate: Very acuminate, with a long
and thin tip.
6. Cuspidate: A form of acuminate in
which the tip tapers gradually to a
point.
7. Emarginate: Broadly notched
at the apex. Similar to retuse,
which is only slightly notched.
8. Mucronate: A sharp point
(mucro) formed by a
continuation of the midvein.
9. Obcordate: Heart-shaped;
notched at the tip like the top of
a heart.
10. Obtuse: A blunt apex with
more than a 90 degree angle.
11. Retuse: Slightly notched at
the apex
I. As to Leaf Bases
1. Acute: Tapering to a
sharp point with convex
sides.
2. Auriculate: A base with
rounded projections that
have a concave inner
margin.
3. Cordate: Heart-shaped;
the base has a notch
similar to that at the top of
a heart.
4. Cuneate: Tapering to a
sharp point. Similar to
acute but with straight, not
convex, sides.
5. Hastate: A base with
outwardly pointed lobes.
6. Oblique: A base that is
not symmetrical on both
sides.
7. Obtuse: Tapering to a
blunt point.

8. Peltate: Borne on a stalk attached to
the lower surface rather than to the
base or margin of the leaf. Nasturtiums
(Tropaeolum majus) have peltate
leaves.
9. Perfoliate: A leaf in which the bases
of two opposite leaves are fused
around the stem, so that the stem
appears to pass through the leaf.
10. Sagittate: With a downwardly
pointed lobe on each side of the base.
11. Truncate: A base that is squared off
at the ends, as if cut off.
J. As to Longevity or Duration of Life
1. Evergreen ~ leaves that live for more than 1
growing season
~ w/ leaves at all time
2. Deciduous ~ leaves that live only for a
single growing season, then fall off
3. Persistent ~ leaves that remain for all time
along the plant; usually big in size
4. Fugacious ~ leaves that fall off immediately
after maturity ; commonly called dirty trees
K. As to Presence or Absence of Petiole
1. Petiolate
2. Sessile

L. As to Presence or Absence of Stipule

1. stipulate
2. Extipulate
 Internal Anatomy of a LEAF
1. Epidermis
- covers the upper and lower leaf
(blade)
- prevents the leaf from losing
excessive amounts of water and
protects it against injury.
- covered with a waxy substance
(cutin); cuticle is a layer of cutin
 a. upper & lower epidermis
b. guard cells
c. stoma
d. water pores/
hydathodes - guttation
common in strawberries
note:
Upper epidermis has a thicker cuticle & fewer
stoma than lower epidermis
Hydathodes
 Internal Anatomy of a Leaf

2. Mesophyll
a. pallisade tissue – vertically oriented
cylindrical cells

b. spongy tissue – loosely packed cells of
variable form

 Internal Anatomy of a Leaf

3. Veins
- fingerprint of
leaves
- help support the
leaf blade

a. xylem
b.phloem
 Transpiration
1.Cuticular

2. Stomatal

3. Lenticular
 Modified Leaves
1. Tendrils – for support

2. Stipules – photosynthetic
3. Spines – protection
4. Bud scales – protect
buds from frost,
dessication & pathogens
5. Bracts – attraction
6. Storage leaves – store
food
7. Insect trapping leaves
 Economic Importance

1. Source of food, spices & drinks

2. Dyes
3. Fibers
4. Fuel
5. Drugs