Leaves:

Form and structure

 Leaves
• Important characteristics
• Type
• Arrangement
• Shape
• Margin
• Veination
• Apex
 FUNCTION OF LEAVES
The Plant Body: Leaves
• Leaves are the solar energy and
CO2 collectors of plants.

• Leaves are the main photosynthetic

organs of most plants

• Transpiration refers to the

movement of water through the
plant, and subsequent evaporation
via the leaves.
 Parts of Leaf

Most leaves have three main parts:

(1) the blade
(2) the petiole, or leafstalk
(3) leaf base
• The Pair of stipules were appear in some
• Type of plant
Parts of Leaf
Parts of Leaf
 Leaf base type
Leaf base :- It is the part where the leaf is attached
to the stem

1- Normal
2- Pulvinus
3- Sheathing
Leaf base type
Leaf base type
 stipule
At the base of the petiole, in many plants, a pair of lateral appendages
known as Stipules are present.
Leaves with stipules are called stipulate (e.g., Hibiscus)
and the leaves without stipules are called exstipulate (e.g., Mango and
all monocots).

KINDS OF STIPULES-There are several kinds of stipules,

free-lateral, adnate, intrapetiolar, interpetiolar, ochreate,
foliaceous, tendrillar, spinous and bud scales. .
 KINDS OF
STIPULES
Free-lateral stipules-These are tiny slender free
outgrowths on both sides of the petiole at the
base. This type is found in most members of the
family Malvaceae, e.g. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
(China rose)
 KINDS OF
STIPULES
Adnate stipules-Here the two stipules are
attached with the petiole on both sides upto
certain distance so that petiole-base appears to
be winged, e.g. Rosa sp. (Rosaceae).
 KINDS OF
STIPULES
Foliaceous stipule-Foliaceous stipules are very conspicuous and
large leaflike on the both sides at the leaf base. In Pisum sativum
(Papilionaceae), the foliaceous stipules look like large leaflets. In
Lathyrus aphaca (Jangli matar, Papilionaceae), the entire leaf is
modified into tendril, the large foliaceous semi-triangular
stipules do the function of leaves.
 KINDS OF
STIPULES
Tendrillar stipule-In this type the stipules become
modified into coily and slender tendrils which help the
plants in climbing up. Tendrillar stipules are found in
Smilax zeylanica (Liliaceae).
 KINDS OF
Spinous stipules are thoseSTIPULES
which are modified to form
spinous structures, e.g. in Capparis Spinosa
(Capparidaceae), Zizyphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae),
Acacia sp‘ (Mimosaceae) etc. the stipules are modified into
sharp pointed structures. These spines serve as defensive
function.
 KINDS OF
STIPULES
 Convolute stipules or Bud-scales-When stipules are modified into
membranous scale-like structures and protect buds by coverin g all
round, e.g., Artocarpus heterophyllus, Ficus benghalensis (Moraceae)
etc. Function is protection of buds.
 Petiole
General leaf form
In the absence of petioles in
grasses and many other
monocots, the base of the leaf Blade
forms a sheath that envelops
the stem.

Most monocots have parallel Petiole

major veins that run the length of
the blade, while dicot leaves have
a multi branched network of major
veins.

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as

Benjamin Cummings
The Blade

The Blade, or lamina, is the broad, flat part of the leaf. Photosynthesis
occurs in the blade, which has many green food-making cells.
Leaf blades differ from one another in several ways:
(1) the types of edges,
(2) the patterns of the veins,
(3) the number of blades per leaf.
 Leaf Types
Simple •

Compound •

Compound - Palmate Compound - Pinnate

 Leaf Types

SIMPLE LEAF : - Simple leaves are

those in which single leaf blade or
lamina is present, - e.g., Mango,
Peepal, Papaya, etc.
COMPOUND LEAF : - Compound
leaves are those in which the leaf
blade or lamina is divided into
number of segments known as
leaflets or pinnae. - The leaflets
never bear axillary buds in their axil.
 Leaf Types
COMPOUND LEAF :
a) Pinnately compound leaves: - In this type the leaflets are
present laterally on a common axis called rachis, which
represents the midrib of the leaf - (e.g. Gold mohur, Cassia)
There are of four kinds of pinnately compound leaves as
i) Unipinnate
ii) Bipinnate
iii) Tripinnate
iv) Decompound
 Leaf Types
COMPOUND LEAF :
b) Palmately compound leaves: - All the leaflets of the
palmately compound leaves are attached at a common point,
i.e. at the tip of petiole, like fingers of the palm.
- There are five types of palmately compound leaves as:
1. Unifoliate
2. Bifoliate
3. Trifoliate
4. Quadrifoliat
5. Multifoliate.
 PHYLLOTAXY

PHYLLOTAXY: Phyllotaxy
is the arrangement of leaves on the stem and branches
• ALTERNATE PHYLLOTAXY: - In this type, single leaf arises at each node. - The
leaves arise laterally on the stem or branches, - e.g., Sunflower, Mango, China
rose, Mustard etc.
• OPPOSITE PHYLLOTAXY: In this type, two leaves arise from each node in
opposite direction. It is of two types: DECUSSATE : When one pair of leaf is
placed at right angle to next or lower pair of leaf, it is said to be opposite
decussate phyllotaxy. e.g., Calotropis, Ocimum, etc. SUPERPOSED: In this
type, all the pairs of leaves on the stem are arranged one above the other,
e.g., Jamun, Guava, etc.
• WHORLED OR VERTICILLATE PHYLLOTAXY: - In this type more than two
leaves arise from each node and form a whorl around it. - e.g., Nerium,
Alstonia
Leaf Arrangement on the Stem

Opposite: 2 leaves at a node,

on opposite sides of the stem

Spiral: 1 leaf per node, with the

second leaf being above the first
but attached on the opposite
side of the stem

Whorled: 3 or more leaves at a

node
 Leaf Arrangement on the Stem
• Plant taxonomists use leaf shape, spatial arrangement of leaves, and the
pattern of veins to help identify and classify plants.
• A Simple leaves have a single, undivided blade, while compound leaves
have several leaflets attached to the petiole.
• A Compound leaf has a bud where its petiole attaches to the stem, not at
the base of the leaflets.

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Leaf Arrangements (Simple)
Leaf Arrangements (Compound)
Leaf Arrangements
Leaf Forms
Leaf characteristics
 Leaf Shapes

Linear Elliptic Lanceolate Oblanceolate

Ovate Obovate Palmate Wedge-shaped Arrow-shaped

Leaf Bases
Leaf Margin - The leaf blade may have lobed or unlobed margins. These and
.other types of margins are: unlobed, lobed, entire, dentate, serrate, and crenate
Leaf Margins
Leaf margins
 Leaf Margins

Lobed-pinnate Lobed-palmate

Entire Serrated Scalloped dToothe

 Leaf Tips
The Structure of various Leaf Apices : The apex of the lamina (leaf
blade) assumes various shapes. The shape of the leaf apex is
important from taxonomic point of view. The following are the
commonly occurring types of leaf apices :
Leaf Apex and Base - Various terms relating to the shape of the leaf apex or
leaf base include: acute, obtuse, acuminate, emarginate, truncate, and
rounded (apex); acute, obtuse, rounded, decurrent, truncate, cordate, lobate,
and sagittate (bases).
 leaf Venation = arrangement of veins in a
• Netted-venation = one or a few prominent
midveins from which smaller minor veins
branch into a meshed network;

• Common to dicots and some nonflowering

plants.
• Pinnately-veined leaves = main vein called
midrib with secondary veins branching from
it (e.g., elm).

• Palmately-veined leaves = veins radiate out

of base of blade (e.g., maple).
Finally, the leaf may have many parallel veins, a pattern termed
.parallel venation
Venation = arrangement of veins in a leaf

• Parallel venation = characteristics of many

monocots (e.g., grasses, cereal grains); veins
are parallel to one another.

• Dichotomous venation = no midrib or large

veins; rather individual veins have a
tendency to fork evenly from the base of the
blade to the opposite margin, creating a
fan-shaped leaf
 Leaves - Comparisons
Monocots and dicots differ in the arrangement of veins, the vascular
tissue of leaves

Most dicots have Monocots have parallel

branch-like veins and leaf veins and longer,
palmate leaf shape slender blades
 Leaf Veinations

Parallel Pinnate Palmate Netted

 Adaptations for storing water and/or food:
•Thickened, fleshy leaves of succulents, such as the pebble plant.
•Bulbs: short, upright but underground stems with layers of specialized, food- and water- storing leaves, such as
onions and tulips.
 Adaptations that attract pollinators:

•Colorful bracts: leaves modified into colorful petal-like patterns to

attract insects, as in the familiar “flowers” Poinsettia and Dogwood
 :MODIFICATIONS OF LEAVES
LEAF SPINES: - In some xerophytic plants like Opuntia, the entire leaf gets modified
into a small, stiff, pointed structure called spine to check transpiration. - Sometimes
only a part of leaf such as stipules, get modified into spines, to protect plants from
grazing animals, - e.g., Zizyphus and Acacia.
LEAF TENDRILS: - In certain plants having weak stem, entire leaf or a part of it
gets modified into an elongated, thin, cylindrical, coiled, wiry, sensitive structure
known as tendril. - These tendrils help the plant to climb up on some support. -
In wild pea (Lathyrus), entire leaf is tendrillar, - in sweet pea (Pisum sativum)
terminal leaflets are tendrillar, - in Gloriosa only the leaf apex modifies into
tendril, and - in Smilax, stipules become tendrillar.
LEAF HOOKS: - In Bignonia unguis-cati (Cat's nail), the terminal three leaflets get
modified into three stiff curved & pointed hooks which look like cat's nail.
 :MODIFICATIONS OF LEAVES
PHYLLODE: - In some plants, petiole becomes flat, green and leaf like and
performs photo synthesis. This is known as phyllode. - For example, in Acacia
auriculiformis, the normal leaf is bipinnately compound and falls off soon. - The
petiole gets modified into phyllode. This is xerophytic adaptation to reduce
transpiration
 Adaptations that attract prey (Carnivorous Plants):
•Glands which secrete sticky “dewdrops” to attract and trap insects, as in Sundew.
•Colorful traps with triggering hairs which close over and digest insects, as for Venus’
Flytrap
•Pouches or pitchers which drown and digest prey, as in Nepenthes.
 Specialized or Modified Leaves
• Drought-resistant leaves = thick, sunken
stomata, often reduced in size

• In American cacti and African euphorbs,

leaves are often reduced such that they
serve as spine to discourage herbivory
and reduce water loss

• The stems serve as the primary organ

of photosynthesis.
 Specialized or Modified Leaves
• In pine trees, the leaves are adapted to
living in a dry environment too.

• Water is locked up as ice during significant

portions of the year and therefore not
available to the plant; pine leaves possess
• sunken stomata,
• thick cuticles
• needle-like leaves
• hypodermis, which is an extra cells just
underneath the epidermis –
 Tendrils

Garden Pea

Tendrils - blade of leaves or leaflets are

reduced in size, allows plant to cling to
other objects (e.g., sweet pea and
garden peas.
 Specialized Leaves
• Some plants obtain nitrogen from Figure 11.8 (1)
digesting animals (mostly insects).

• The Pitcher plant has digestive

enzymes at the bottom of the trap

• This is a “passive trap” Insects

fall in and can not get out

• Pitcher plants have specialized

vascular network to tame the amino
acids from the digested insects to
the rest of the plant
 Specialized Leaves
Figure 11.12
• The Venus fly trap has an “active trap”

• Good control over turgor pressure in

each plant cell.

• When the trap is sprung, ion channels

open and water moves rapidly out of the
cells.

• Turgor drops and the leaves slam shut

• Digestive enzymes take over