Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600,
Philippines

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Plant Leaves

Introduction:

The first and ultimate goal of every plant is photosynthesis. A leaf is lateral photosynthetic organ
of shoot with restricted growth. Leaves are useful for plant identification. A leaf’s shape, base, apex and
margin can be important identifying characteristics. Features of a leaf (i.e., characters help to distinguish
it) include having a bud in the axil, not growing by apex, not producing new leaves or shoots, and having
hierarchal morphology

Leaf (phylum) is a lateral structure generated by the stem, it has a pre-defined position, limited
growth and age. A leaf fulfils numerous functions: photosynthetic (i.e. reception of solar radiation, CO2
and release of oxygen), transpiration, conductive (i.e. evaporation, cooling, control of cell tension –
turgor, supply of leaf with nutrients and conduct of photosynthates away) and respiratory (i.e. respiration
and renewal of precursors for syntheses – e.g. chlorophyll). Other significant functions include
reproductive (type of leaves called sporophylls – microsporophylls and megasporophylls and flower
phylloms) and regulation functions (phytohormones production). The most frequent, typical leaf is
modified in order to optimally work at material exchange with the environment, and this is why its exterior
as well as interior surface is large. Besides, leaves can take over other completely different functions,
which makes their structure completely modified, e.g. defence function by the modification into spines.
Leaves are the most variable organ in an individual which ensues from its numerous functions and
necessity to structurally react to different environments in a tree crown (light, wind, air humidity,
temperature gradients). If a leaf completely changes its appearance and structure not as a result of the
photosynthetic function, we call this change a metamorphosis. If it only reacts by slight deviations in the
structure or shape to exogenous impulses in order to optimally fulfil the function it is called a modification.

Outcomes:
1. Describe the different types of leaves
2. Differentiate the leaf characteristics
3. Describe leaf structures
4. Explain the function of the leaf and its structure

Discussion:

Phyllogenesis – the evolution of a leaf

Leaf of vascular plants originated in a set of terminal plant body elements, sterile telomes of
psilophyton plants. Telomes used to planate, flatten, adhere and develop in two directions. This is how
large flat assimilation leaves, called macrophyll, of present ferns and angiosperms were formed. A
microphyll (a needle or scaly leaves of angiosperms and meiophylls, thin single-vessel leaves of
horsetails) is thought to have originated by the reduction and condensation of macrophylls or their
elements.

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F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600,
Philippines

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Types of leaves

There are many kinds of leaves. The most common and conspicuous leaves are referred to as
foliage and are the primary location of photosynthesis. However, there are many other types of modified
leaves (see Figure 11):
 Scale leaves (cataphylls) are found on rhizomes and buds, which they enclose and
protect.
 Seed leaves (cotyledons) are found on embryonic plants. They store food for the
developing seedling.
 Spines and tendrils, such as those on barberry and pea plants, protect a plant or help
support its stems.
 Storage leaves, such as those on bulbous plants and succulents, store food.
 Bracts often are brightly colored modified leaves. The showy structures on dogwoods
and poinsettias are bracts, not petal

Three Types of Leaf Characters

 General characters are only applicable to the whole leaf.
o Include stipules and other structures located near leaf base: sheath (typical for
grasses and other liliids) and ocrea (typical for buckwheat family, Polygonaceae).
 Terminal characters are only applicable to the terminal leaflets.
o Terminals are the end parts of leaves, they do not split in smaller terminals; clover
leaf, for example, has 3 terminals.
o Terminal characters are applicable only to terminal leaflets of leaves. These
characters are the shape of the leaf blade base, the leaf tip, the type of margin,
the surface, and the venation.
 Repetitive characters repeat on each level of leaf hierarchy. General and terminal
characters do not depend on hierarchy. Repetitive characters may be different on each
step of hierarchy.
o Repetitive characters are the shape of the leaf, leaf dissection, and whether the
blade is stalked (has petiole) or not.

Leaf Form and Structure

 Leaves are variable and may be described based on their shape, margin (edges), vein
patterns and the way they attach to stems.
 Most leaves are composed of two parts:
o Blade – the broad, flat portion of the leaf.
 Common blade shapes
 Lanceolate — Longer than wide and tapering toward the apex and
base.
 Linear — Narrow, several times longer than wide and of
approximately the same width throughout.
 Cordate (heart-shaped) — Broadly ovate, tapering to an acute
apex, with the base turning in and forming a notch where the
petiole is attached.
 Elliptical — About two or three times as long as wide, tapering to
an acute or rounded apex and base.
 Ovate — Egg-shaped, basal portion wide, tapering toward the
apex.

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o Petiole – the stalk that attaches the blade to the stem

Figure 1

 Other Leaf structure:

o Stipules – leaf like outgrowths usually present in pairs at the base of the petiole.

Figure 2

o Sessile – leaf lacks a petiole and has a blade directly attached to the stem often
by sheath that encircles the stem.

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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Figure 3

 Types of Leaves
o Simple – having single blade
o Compound – having a blade divided into two or more leaflets
 Pinnately compound – the leaflets are borne on an axis that is a
continuation of the petiole
 Palmately compound – the leaflets arise from a common point at the
end of the petiole.

Figure 4

 Leaves Arrangement
o Alternate Leaf Arrangement – with one leaf at each node
o Opposite Leaf Arrangement – with two leaves growing at each node
o Whorled Leaf Arrangement – with three or more leaves growing at each node.

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F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600,
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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Figure 5
 Leaves Venation
o Parallel Venation – when the primary veins run approximately parallel to one
another along the leaf’s axis, with smaller veins froming conncetions between
the primary veins.
o Netted Venation – smaller and smaller veins branch off the larger veins in
such a way that they resemble a net.
 Palmately netted – several major veins radiate out from one point
 Pinnately netted – in which major veins branch off along the entire
length of the midvein (the main or central vein of a leaf)

Figure 6 Figure 7

Common Leaf Margin Forms

 Entire — having a smooth edge with no teeth or notches.

 Crenate — having rounded teeth.
 Dentate — having teeth ending in an acute angle pointing outward.
 Serrate — having small, sharp teeth pointing toward the apex.
 Incised — having a margin cut into sharp, deep, irregular teeth or incisions.
 Lobed — having incisions that extend less than halfway to the midrib

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Common Leaf Apex and Base shapes

 Acute — ending in an acute angle, with a sharp, but not acuminate, point.
 Acuminate — tapering to a long, narrow point.
 Obtuse — tapering to a rounded edge.
 Cuneate — Wedge-shaped; triangular with the narrow end at the point of attachment.
 Cordate (heart-shaped) — Turning in and forming a notch

Major Tissues of the Leaf

 Dermal Tissue system

o This is represented by the upper and lower epidermis
 The upper epidermis cover the upper surface of the leaf.
 The lower epidermis covers the lower surface of the leaf.
o Most cells in this layer are living parenchyma cells that lack chloroplasts and
are relatively transparent.
o The cell wall facing toward the outside environment is thicker than the cell
wall facing inward. This thickness is associated to additional protection.
o It secrete a waxy layer the cuticle that reduces water loss from their exterior
walls. Cuticle is mainly consists of waxy substance called cutin.
o The epidermal layer has opening called stomata (sing: Stoma) it is flanked by
guard cells and functions primarily as entry and exit point of the gas exchange
process.
 Guard Cells – A cell in the epidermis of a stem or leaf; which initiates
the opening and closing of the stomata

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o The epidermal layer of the leaves is also covered with trichomes, hair like
structure which helps in retaining a layer of moist air, protection from
consumers and releases excess salt absorbed by the plant.
 Ground Tissue System
o This is represented by the mesophyll, “the middle of the leaf”
o It is the photosynthetic tissue in the interior of the leaf.
o It is composed of parenchyma cells packed with chloroplasts with air spaces
in between for gas exchange.
o It is divided into two layers:
 Paliside Mesophyll
 Located toward the upper epidermis characterized by
columnar cells stacked closely together.
 Main site of photosynthesis in the leaf.
 Paliside mesophyll may be organized in several layers, due to
adaptation to environmental conditions
 Spongy Mesophyll
 Located toward the lower portion and are more irregularly
arranged
 Primary function is to allow diffusion of gases particularly CO2
throughout the leaf’s interior.
 Vascular Tissue System
o This is represented by the xylem and phloem in the veins.
o Vascular bundles extend through the mesophyll.
o The vascular bundle is composed of the xylem and phloem
o It is also surrounded by a bundle sheath, a ring of parenchyma or
sclerenchyma.
 Bundle Sheath Extensions – support columns of bundle sheath that
extend through the mesophyll from the upper epidermis to the lower
epidermis.

Figure 8: Leaf Tissue Structure

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Difference of Eudicots and Monocots Leaf

Eudicots Monocots
- Broad, flattened blade and a petiole - Lack petiole; they are narrow, and the
- It has netted venation base of the leaf often wraps around the
- Eudicots have both palisade and spongy stem, forming a sheath.
layers. - It has a parallel venation
- Some monocots do not have mesophyll
differentiated into distinct palisade and
spongy layers.

Figure 10: Cross Section of Monocot Leaf

Figure 9: Cross Section of Eudicot Leaf

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Figure 11: Types of Leaves

Scale Leaves Seed leaves (cotyledons)

Spines and tendrils Bracts

Storage leaves,

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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Guide Questions:

1. Explain the process of leaf development.

2. Describe transpiration and its effects on the plant.
3. Define Leaf abscission and explain why it occurs and what physiological and anatomical
changes precedes it.

Image Source:

1. Botany 115 Terminology. Leaf terminology (part 2). (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/termlf2.htm.
2. Stipules of Chinese Chestnut. Stipules. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://botit.botany.wisc.edu/botany_130/plant_morphology/stipules.html.
3. Learn parts of a leaf in 2 minutes. - toppr.com. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://www.toppr.com/ask/content/story/amp/parts-of-a-leaf-77836/.
4. Pin on parts of a leaf. Pinterest. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/4433299606710144/.
5. Team, V. C. (2020, September 14). Phyllotaxy ISA) mode of leaf arrangement on STEMB)
types of rootsc) arrangement of sepals and petals in a flowerd) type of ovary. Phyllotaxy is A
Mode of leaf arrangement on stem B class 10 biology CBSE. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://www.vedantu.com/question-answer/phyllotaxy-is-a-mode-of-leaf-arrangement-on-stem-
class-10-biology-cbse-5f5fa1668f2fe2491815e981.
6. Glossary details. The William & Lynda Steere Herbarium. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2021,
from http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/glossary/glossary-details/?irn=1806.
7. parrc Follow. (n.d.). Leaf anatomy. SlideShare. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://www.slideshare.net/parrc/leaf-anatomy-9515506.
8. Wikimedia Foundation. (2012, November 26). File:leaf tissue structure.svg. Wikipedia.
Retrieved October 13, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leaf_Tissue_Structure.svg.
9. Category: Pine Leaf. OSU Plant Structure (BOT313), Winter 2017. (n.d.). Retrieved October
13, 2021, from http://plant-structure.weebly.com/blog/category/pine-leaf.
10. Notes, B. E. (2019, April 25). Anatomy of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants.
Medium. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from https://medium.com/@biologynotes/anatomy-of-
dicotyledonous-and-monocotyledonous-plants-fb6cc6b34fcf.
11. Generalhort. (n.d.). Hort 202: Plant Structures. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
http://generalhorticulture.tamu.edu/h202/labs/lab2/Modified-leaf-links/cataphyll.html.
12. Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, September 9). Cotyledon. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 13,
2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotyledon.
13. QS study. QS Study. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2021, from
https://qsstudy.com/biology/explain-modifications-of-leaves.
14. Plant Structure Growth and Development Concept 35 1. SlideToDoc.com. (n.d.). Retrieved
October 13, 2021, from https://slidetodoc.com/plant-structure-growth-and-development-
concept-35-1/.
15. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Succulent. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October
13, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/plant/succulent.

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CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

References Content:

Martinková, M., Čermák, M., Gebauer, R., & Špinlerová, Z. (2014). Plant Botany An introduction to
plant anatomy, morphology and physiology. Mendel University in Brno Faculty of Forestry and
Wood Technology.

Berg, L. R. (2016). Plant Organs: Roots. In Introduction to Botany (8th ed., pp. 174-196). essay,
Cengage Learning Asia Pte. Ltd.

Taylor, T. N., Taylor, E. L., & Krings, M. (2009, July 27). Introduction to vascular plant morphology
and anatomy. Paleobotany (Second Edition). Retrieved October 7, 2021, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123739728000073.

Shipunov, A. (2021). Introduction to Botany. Minot State University (North Dakota, USA) with the
help of students in Biology 154 and Biology 310 classes.

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