The shoot system of plants: the leaf

leaf – lateral outgrowth of the stem

distinctive characteristics:
green – contains chlorophyll for photosynthesis
flat – ideal for intercepting light
wide – for wide distribution of stomates

origin:
leaf primordia – with actively dividing cells that will develop into a
new leaf

marginal meristem- gives rise to the leaf blade and petiole

main functions:
for photosynthesis (food manufacturing)
for transpiration (loss of excess water)
for gas exchange (entry of CO2, and release of O2 )

morphology:

parts:

• most dicots have petioles – PETIOLATE

• most monocots DON’T have petioles – SESSILE

leaf venation – pattern formed by the leaf veins

• netted/ reticulate – 1 or more prominent veins from which

smaller veins (veinlets) branch off; exhibited by DICOTS
• parallel/ striate – 1 or few longer veins that are parallel to each
other; exhibited by MONOCOTS

leaf symmetry

aDaxial side – dorsal (upper surface)

aBaxial side – ventral (babang surface)

• dorsiventral – distinct adaxial and abaxial sides (DICOTS)

• isolateral – the adaxial and abaxial sides look the same
(MONOCOTS)
leaf type – leaf blade configuration

• simple – blade is all in one unit

• compound – blade is composed of a number of leaf-like parts
- trifoliate (Vigna radiata)
- pinnate (Gliricidia sepium)
- polypinnate (Moringa oleifera)
- palmate (Brassaia actinophylla)

* techniques to easily identify the leaf type:

-first look for the stem… kasi anything that will arise from the
stem would be a leaf.. except for flowers, stem tendrils and fruits,
ha? oki?!
-next, look carefully at the blade/ lamina of the leaf… titigan
at sundan ang blade… kung konektado yung blade, kahit mejo
mukhang hiwahiwalay, basta as long as may connection, it is
considered as a simple leaf… kung hiwahiwalay naman ung blade
at may series ng leaf-like structures, e di compound nay un…
okey?! good!!

* examples:

leaf
stem Simple leaf

Coffea sp.

Simple leaf
(arrow – connection of the blade)

Carica papaya
 Compound leaf

Brassaia actinophylla

Phyllotaxy – leaf arrangement

• alternate – 1 leaf : 1 node (Carica papaya)

• opposite – 2 leaves : 1 node (Coffea sp.)
• whorled – 3 or more leaves : 1 node (Allamanda cathartica)

petiole Alternate

node
Carica papaya

1
node Opposite

Coffea sp.
 Whorled
node
1 4

2 3

Allamanda cathartica

anatomy:

3 main tissue systems:

• dermal tissues – epidermis

• ground tissues – mesophyll
• vascular tissues – xylem and phloem (veins)

epidermis – may be: simple – single layered

multiple – multiple layered
- non-chlorophyll containing cells
- covered with CUTICLE to minimize water loss
stoma/ta – 2 guard cells + pore
types of stomatal distribution:
• epistomatic – stomatal concentration on the adaxial side
• hypostomatic – stomatal concentration on abaxial side
• amphistomatic – stomatal concentration on both sides

mesophyll – to facilitate rapid gas exchange esp. for photosynthesis

• palisade mesophyll – next to the epidermis (adaxial);

columnar/ rectangular parenchyma cells with numerous
chloroplasts (CHLORENCHYMA) *not present/not distinctly
seen in MONOCOTS*
• spongy mesophyll – next to the palisade layer (abaxial);
irregularly shaped parenchyma cells with lots of intercellular
spaces (AERENCHYMA)
 vascular bundle
location of xylem and phloem:
xylem – up
phloem – down

xeromorphic adaptations: to be able to survive dry conditions

Nerium oleander
- multiple epidermis with thick waxy cuticle
- stomatal crypts with TRICHOMES (hairy out growths)
which help in reducing water loss
- bilayer palisade mesophyll
 guard cell

trichomes
Stomatal crypt

Oryza sativa

-bulliform cells/ motor cells – inflated cells (high water

concentration= fully expanded leaf: low water concentration= leaf margins
roll)

bulliform cells
metamorphosed leaves – with specialized functions

• spine – for protection (Livistona rotundifolia – anahaw)

• insect trapper – for additional nutrients (Nepenthes elata –
pitcher plant)
• enlarged/ inflated petiole- for floating/ buoyancy (Eichhornia
crassipes – water hyacinth)
• leaf tendril – for additional support (Flagellaria indica –
balingwai)
• bulb composed of overlapping leaf sheaths – food storage
(Allium cepa – onion)
• colored bract/ semaphyll – for attracting pollinators
(Bougainvillea spectabilis, Mussaenda sp.)
• pseudostem – enlarged base of petiole for additional support
(Musa sapientum – banana)
• vegetative leaves – for asexual reproduction (Kalanchoe
pinnata – kataka-taka)
• bud scale- for protection of developing bud (Ficus elastica)