Exercise 13

The Morphology of the Leaf

The main photosynthetic organ of plants is the leaf. Characteristically, most leaves are laterally
spread, an adaptation for maximum capture of light energy. Midrib and veins where water-
conducting xylem and food-conducting phloem tissues are also spread in either parallel or in
branching patterns. All these are adaptations for efficient photosynthetic functions of this organ.

Objectives:

After the exercise, the students must be able to:

1. Describe the monocot from eudicot leaves.

Materials:

Bring any of the following leaves of plants:

Any leaves available in your neighborhood.

Suggested if available:
Guava (Psidium guajava)
Bamboo (Bambusa sp.)
Banana (Musa sp.)
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Sabila (Aloe vera)
Anahaw (Saribus rotundifolius)

Procedure:

1. Study the different leaves of plants you brought.

2. Identify whether monocot or eudicot leaf.

A. The Morphology of a Monocot Leaf:

The monocot leaf is characterized by parallel venation. In simple parallel venation the
veins run alongside each other from the base to the tip.

In penni-parallel venation the veins are arranged on each side of the midrib in parallel
direction like barbs of feathers.

The monocot leaf is attached to the stem by a clasping structure termed as the leaf
sheath.

Identify the type of leaf photos below. Label the part identified characterizing the
monocot leaf.
 Simple parallel Penni-parallel
venation venation

source: docyurong source: docyurong

source: Orchids of New Guinea

For succulents, veins are not evident, and this is called obsolete.

Examine a leaf of a bamboo. The leaf has simple parallel venation. At the base is the leaf
sheath that clasp/surrounds the stem. Draw and label the blade, midrib, veins, and the
leaf sheath.

Midrib

Blade
Veins

Leaf sheath

Figure 1. Drawing of Bamboo leaf (Bambusa sp.).

Examine the leaf of a banana. It has penni-parallel type of venation. Draw and label the
leaf blade, midrib, veins, and leaf sheath.

Midrib

Blade
Veins

Leaf sheath

Figure 2. Drawing of Banana leaf (Musa sp.).

Examine an anahaw leaf. It has a palmate venation. Draw.

Figure 3. Drawing of Anahaw (Saribus rotundifolius).

 Examine a leaf of Sabila, a succulent leaf. Draw.

Figure 4. Drawing of Sabila (Aloe vera).

B. The Morphology of a Eudicot Leaf:

The eudicot leaf has a netted type of venation. The petiole holds the leaf onto the stem.
The petiole extends into the midrib. From the midrib arise the branching/reticulate veins.
Which traverse the blade, the expanded part of the leaf.

Blade

Midrib

Branching/reticulate veins

Petiole

source: docyurong

There are two types of venations in eudicot leaf, the pinnately-netted venation and the
palmately netted venation.

Pinnately-netted venation is the type when veins branched out from the midrib and
branched out further into the blade.
Palmately-netted when several large veins of nearly equal sizes and lengths branched into
the blade from a common point at the apical end of the petiole.

Identify the types of the leaf photos below (L1 and L2) and label the parts described for
eudicot leaf: petiole, midrib, blade, and reticulate veins.

Pinnately-netted venation

Blade

Midrib

Reticulate veins

Petiole

L1
Source: docyurong

Palmately-netted venation

Blade Midrib

Reticulate veins

Petiole

L2
Source: docyurong
 Study the leaves of guava as an example for the netted venation and papaya for the
palmate venation. Draw and label the blade and netted veins and the blade and the
palmate veins.

Netted venation

Blade

Netted veins

Figure 5. Drawing of Guava leaves (Psidium guajava).

Palmate venation

Palmate veins
Blade

Figure 6. Drawing of Papaya leaf (Carica papaya).