PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

The Leaf
by: Rhusella Adrianne L. de Gracia
LEAVES: FORM &
FUNCTION
•Function
•External Anatomy
•Internal Anatomy
•Specialized Leaves

The P l a n t B o d y :
Leaves
Leaves are the solar energy
and CO2 collectors of plants.

In some plants, leaves have

become adapted for specialized
functions.
EXT E R N A L A N A T O M Y

Leaves possess a blade or

lamina, an edge called the
margin ofthe leaf, the
veins(vascular bundles), a
petiole, and two appendages at
the base of the petiole called
the stipules.

EXTERNAL
ANATOMY
Phyllotaxy
Arrangement of leaves on a
stem
 LEAF TYPES
Simple, compound,
- peltate and
perfoliate
Simple leaf Compound leaf Peltate leaves
undivided blade •blade divided into leaflets, •petioles tha tare
with a single axillary leaflet slack anaxillary bud but attached to the middle
bud at the base each compound leaf hasa single of the blade; examples
ofits petiole. bud at the base of its petiole include mayapple
 LEAF TYPES
Simple, compound,
- peltate and
perfoliate
Compound leaf
–palmately-compound leaves:
–pinnately-compound leaves:
leaflets attached at the same point
leaflets in pairs and attached
at the end of the petiole;
along a central rachis; examples
examplesofplantswith this leaf type
include ash, walnut, pecan, and
include buckeye, horse chestnut,
rose.
hemp or marijuana, and shamrock.
 LEAF TYPES
Simple, compound,
- peltate and
perfoliate
Perfoliate leaves
sessile leaves that surround
and are pierced by stems;
examples include yellow-wort
and thoroughwort
Peltate & Perfoliate
Leaves

Yellow wort
Mayapple
 Dichotomous

Venation
venation
no midrib or large veins;
rather individual veins have
arrangement of a tendency to fork evenly
fromthe base of the the
veins in a leaf blade to the opposite
margin, creating a fan-
shapedleaf(e.g., Gingko).

Netted- Parallel
venation venation
characteristics of many
one or a few prominent monocots (e.g.,
midveins from which smaller grasses, cereal grains);

minor veins branch into a

veins are parallel to one
meshed network; common to
dicots and some nonflowering
another.
plants.

Venatio n T y p e s

Netted or Reticulate
Venation
LEAF – Internal Anatomy
LEAF – Internal Anatomy
Internal and External Views
Deciduous Leaves & Leaf
Abscission
 r " s e e d " le a v e s .
n s : e m b ry o n ic o ft e n
•Cotyledo d b y a g e rmin a tin g s e e d, o
e lp
le a ve s p ro d u ce en d o sp e rm )t o h
First (ob ta in e d fr o m th e
a sto r e o f f oo d b lis h e d .
contain m e e st a
the seedling beco or leaflets are reduced in
s - b la d e o f le a ve s s w e e t p e a an d
•Ten d ril h e r o b je c ts (e .g.,
la n t t o cli n g to o t
size,allo w s p
garden peas.

S p e c i a l i z e d o r
Mo d i f i e d L e a v e s
 •Shade leaves te for less light; often
rg e r to co m p en sa
ner, few er hairs, la a ded areas.
thin pla nts livin g in s h
foun d in

S p e c i a l i z e d o r
Mo d i f i e d L e a v e s
 - r e s is t a n t le a v es
•Drought ft e n r e d u c e d in s iz e
u n k e n s to m a ta , o s a r e o f te n
thic k , s e u p h o rb s, le a v e
c a c t i a n d A fr ic a n ra g e h e r b iv o r y
–In Amer ic a n s p in e to d isc o u
t h a t th e y s e rv e a s a ry o r g a n o f
reduced such ter loss; stems serve as the pr im
and reduce wa p h o t o s y n th e sis .
a d r y
d a p te d to liv in g in
s , th e le a v e s a r e a s ig n if ic a n t
–In pine t r e e d u p a s ice du r in g
o o . W a te r is lo c k e t o t h e p lan t;
environment t fo r e n o t a v a ila ble
h e y e a r a n d t h e r e le s , n e e d le -li k e
portions o f t o m a ta , t h ic k c u tic
o s s e s s s u n ke n s t ra c e lls ju s t
pine lea ve s p is , w hic h is a n e x t
o d e r m
leaves, and a hyprneath the epidermis -
unde

S p e c i a l i z e d o r
Mo d i f i e d L e a v e s
 d t h o r n s:
•Prickles an m s an d le a v e s( e.g .,
u t gro w t h s o n s te
epider m a l o rie s ; H yp o d e rm ic
r a s p b e r
holly, rose, and on stinging nettles.
trichomes c c u le n t le a v e s
le a v e s su
•Storage n la r g e va c u o le s.
reta in w a te r i
i v e l e a v e s ,
•Reproduct is e o n m a rg in s o f
c h ö e p la n tle t s a r
(e.g.,Ka l an
leaves.

S p e c i a l i z e d o r
Mo d i f i e d L e a v e s
 p p i n g l e av e s:
•Insect-tra ts , su n d e w s v e n u s
m p le : p itc h e r p la n a v e s
For e x a h a ve m o d if i e d le
a n d b la d d e r w o r t s u n d e r
flytr ap s , l th e se p la n ts li ve
tu rin g i n s e cts ; A l in s ec t
for ca p ti o n s a n d d ig e s t
t ri en t -p o o r c o n d i s se n ti a l
n u o g e n a n d o th e r e
d ie s to o b t ain n it r
bo nutrients.

S p e c i a l i z e d o r
Mo d i f i e d L e a v e s
 •Bracts
pe t a l-l ik e l e a v e s .
n d o w L e a v e s
•Wi n s p a r en t pa rt
ie d in s o il w it h tr a
plan t is b u r d re d u c e s lo ss o f
lig h t. B e in g b u rie
expo se d to o n m en ts .
war in arid en eaves v i r
•Flower pot l e b ri s fo r n u tr ien t
c a tc h w a t e r a n d d
Structu r e to h a n t's f e e t.
c t io n - f a i r y- e le p
colle
S p e c i a l i z e d o r

Mo d i f i e d L e a v e s
Cotyledons or “seed
leaves”
Tendrils
Leaves as Needles and
Spines
Leaves as Colorful
Bracts