Recognise plant characteristics

Leaves
and their function
 Describing Leaves
• Leaves are described by their:
• shape
• margin (leaf edge)
• arrangement (the way the leaves are arranged
on the stem).
• Leaves can be divided or classified into two
groups - simple or compound.
 Leaf parts
• Blade (or Lamina), which is the flat
part of the leaf
• Petiole attached to stem – it is the
stalk of the leaves that supports the
blade . The angle between the
petiole and the stem is called axil,
and a bud present in the axil is the
axillary bud
• Apex- tip of the leaf
• At the base of the petiole as it
attaches to the stem, there is a
stipule. It is a small growth that
resembles a leaf. It is not to be
confused with an axillary bud.
shape
Shape-Pictorial descriptions
margin (leaf edge)
 arrangement -the way the leaves are
arranged on the stem
• opposite
(the leaves are opposite each other on the
stem
Leaf Arrangement- Alternate
• alternate (the leaves are alternate on the stem
 Leaf Arrangement- whorled
• whorled (the leaves form a circle around the
stem)
 Smell or Aroma.
• Eucalyptus leaves are a good example.
 Simple or Compound
• Leaves can be divided or classified into two
groups - simple or compound.
 Simple leaves
• Simple leaves are one piece.
• The flat part of the leaf, the
blade structure or , is attached
to the stem by a sheathing leaf
base, or a petiole (stalk)
• An axillary bud is found at the
base of the petiole where it
attaches to the stem.
 Simple leaves

• Sometimes a simple leaf does not have a

petiole and the leaf is termed sessile.
 Simple leaves

• Camellia
spp. are
examples of
plants that
have simple
leaves
 Compound leaves

• The compound leaf blade is

divided into leaflets.
• The axis (or area) beyond
the petiole is called the
rachis
 Compound leaves

• The compound leaf has just one axillary bud.

 Types of compound leaves
• pinnate
 Types of compound leaves
• bipinnate
 Types of compound leaves
• palmate
 compound leaves
• Many plants have compound leaves, for
example, Rosa sp.
Axillary bud

Stiplues
 Leaf functions
• Leaves are the food making factories of green
plants
• Leaves are designed to capture sunlight which
the plant uses to make food through a process
called photosynthesis
 Photosynthesis

• Chlorophyll (the green pigment or

colouring of leaves) takes in energy from
sunlight and uses this to turn water and
carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar.
• The oxygen is released into the
atmosphere.
• Sugar is used to form the compounds
required for growth of the plant and to
provide energy
• Excess sugar may be converted into
starch for storage in the roots.
 Respiration
• Respiration reverses the process of
photosynthesis, releasing the stored chemical
energy.
• Takes place in all living things
• Is a step by step process
 Transpiration

• Plants lose water from the leaves through

evaporation.
• This process not only helps to cool the leaves
but also draws water into the plant from the
soil through the roots to replace the water
lost.
 References
• http://tle.tafevc.com.au/toolbox/file/ecdff337
-53f7-1400-2b37-
13782f37bd95/1/507_recognise_plants.zip/ht
ml/pages/unit/unit_08/act3/content/3_pg02.
htm