PLANT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Name: Section:
Course: Date:

Laboratory Exercise No. 2

Leaf Structure

I. INTRODUCTION

The visual identification of plants benefits from knowledge of plant morphology and
identification. It requires an awareness of stem, leaf, bud, flower, and fruit morphology as well as
taxonomic information. Plant morphology is helpful in the visual identification of plants. The
ability to create a profile of a plant is crucial because it enables thorough comparisons within a
species to locate variants as well as general comparisons of plant species exhibiting a similar
structure.

II. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the exercise, the students must be able to:

1. To identify and classify the selected crops based on their morphology;
2. To know the importance of identifying plant morphology;

III. MATERIALS

Books/online sources/leaves of the crop,glue,ballpen,camera

IV. PROCEDURE

1. Research and provide what is being asked.

2. Collect some agricultural leaf of the crops in your area and assess their leaf morphology.
3. Discuss the study questions provided.
 LEAF STRUCTURE

In order to identify plants,it is necessary for an individual to have a keen awareness (working knowledge)
of taxonomic terminology and concise mental pictures of leaf ,bud,stem,flower and fruit morphology.

Simple Leaves – pinnate venation, palmate venation, parallel venation

ANGIOSPERM LEAF TYPES

Pinnate.The leaf has a prominent central vein(often

termed the midrib)which extends frmom the
base,where the petiole attaches to the blade,to the
apex of the leaf.If the interveinal areas were
removed the overall effect would be that of a
fishbone.Pinnate venation occurs in the leaves of
many plant types.The elm (Ulmus) and oak
(Quercus) are classic examples.

Simple Leaf vs.

Compound Leaf
 Other Types of Compound Leaves

Bipinnately compound leaves are twice divided. What was

considered the leaf of the pinnately compound leaf is now
another leaf-bearing axis to which additional leaflets are
attached. The new leaf bearing axes are referred to as
pinnae. Each pinna has a certain number of
leaflets.Ex.Gymnocladus Albizia,Gleditsia

Bipinnately compound leaf

The position of the bud determines wether the leaf is

Tripinnate simple or compound. In the case of the single leaf the
bud is found in the axil of the leaf and stem. If the bud
is located in the axil of a structure containing more
than one leaf, it is termed compound. Compound
leaves may have from three to 1,500 leaflets.
compound leaf

In this type,the rachis gets branch thrice or more than thrice and
the leaflets arise on the ultimate branches.Ex. Coriandrum
sativum(Coriander)

Decompound compound leaves

GYMNOSPERM LEAF TYPE

Cone-bearing or naked seeded plants often display different

leaf types than those associated with angiosperm plants. Not all conifers (or cone-bearers) have
evergreen foliage (exceptions include Taxodium,Metasequoia,Larix,and Pseudolarix).

The needle (leaves) are shape like an awl. They are usually,
narrowly triangular, very sharp to the touch.Many Juniperus
(Junipers) exhibit awl-shaped foliage.

In this type,the rachis gets brach twice and the leaflets arises
on the tertiary rachis
Scale-like foliage overlaps like the single on a roof or the scales
Ex.Moringa
on fish. Thisoleifera
type of foliage is relatively soft to the touch.
 Needle like foliage is typical of several evergreen, pines genera and species. The image depicts
the foliage of a 5-needed pine. In the genus Pinus the leaves (needles) are usually contained in
fascicles of 2, 3 or 5.Other species such as Abies,Picea,Cedrus,Pseudotsuga,and Taxus have the
needles borne singly or in clusters along the stem.The needles may be relatively flat (2-sided) or
angular (often quadrangle) in cross-section.

ARRANGEMENT OF LEAVES

Many vegetative keys employ the arrangement of leaves and buds as a basis for separation. The
use of the four categories by the student allows him/her to categorize plants into groups and assists in
eliminating many plants from consideration in the process of positive identification.

Leaves and buds directly across from each other on

the stem
 TYPES OF LEAF VENATION

Leaf venation refers to the patterns of veins within the leaf blade.

Leaves and buds are spaced in alternating fashion

along the axis of the stem and seldom if ever are
seated directly across from each other.

Whorled refers to a condition when three buds and

leaves (or more) are present at a node.

Palmate.There are several main veins all of

approximately equal size which extend from the base of
the leaf to the apex of the lobe or margin.
Pinnate.The leaf has a prominent central vein (often
termed the midrib) which extends from the
base,where the petiole attaches to the blade,to the
apex of the leaf.If the interveinal areas were removed
the overall effect would be that of a fishbone.Pinnate
venation occurs in the leaves of many plant types.

Parallel. Typical of many monocotyledonous plants. The

veins run essentially parallel to each other along axis of
the leaf.Ex.Corn

Dichotomous.A very limited type of venation,the most

familiar representative of which is Ginkgo biloba.The
basal veins extend for a distance and then branch
forming a “Y” type pattern.
Morphological features for description include leaf shape, tip and base features, and margins
(edges)

LEAF SHAPES

LEAF APICES (TIPS)

 LEAF BASES

LEAF MARGINS
 FIELD LEAF IDENTIFICATION

Procedure:

Organize yourselves into groups of five and choose a specific area of the College of Agriculture
for leaf morphological identification and classification. Identify and classify at least 10 different crops,
including those that belong to cereals/grains, legumes, roots and tubers, fiber, medicinal, fruit,
ornamental, forage crops, and weeds.Provide photos of each chosen crops.After taking all the samples
of variouse crops present it in the class for more details and discussions.

1. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics

2. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics
3. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics

4. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics

5.Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics
6. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics

7. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics

8.Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics
9. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics

3. Name of species________ Collected leaf sample

Plant type (monocot/dicot) ____________

Leaf arrangement _____________

Leaf type___________

Leaf margin______________

Leaf Tip___

Leaf Shape__________

Other characteristics

STUDY QUESTION

1. How is leaf arrangement used in the study of plant classification?

CONCLUSION

DOCUMENTATION WHILE HAVING LEAF STRUCTURE IDENTIFICATION

Suggested References:
1. Makina, D.M JR. 2007. Lecture Manual Crop Science 1: Fundamentals of Crop Science. UPLB.
2. Waldren, R.P. 2003. Introductory Crop Science, 5th Ed. Pearson Custom Publishing. 335 pp.
3. Goodman, R.M. 2004. Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science. M. Dekker, New York. 1329 pp.
4. Hillison J. 1996. The Origins Of Agriscience: Or Where Did All That Scientific Agriculture Come From? 5.
Journal of Agricultural Education. 37 (4): 8-13.
6.VTJenny(2008.Sept.21).HorticultureintheDessert.Retrievedfrom:https://desertflower.wordpress.com/t
ag/compound-leaf/
7.HemantMore(2019.October2019)Retrievedfrom:https://thefactfactor.com/facts/pure_science/biolog
y/botany/the-leaf/4099/
8.Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist Identify Plants and Plant Requirements. Retrieved
from:https://opentextbc.ca/plantidentification/chapter/plant-morphology-conifers/
9.Biology.Libretexts.Retrievedfrom;https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Botany/Red_Seal_Landscape
_Horticulturist_Identify_Plants_and_Plant_Requirements_I_%28Nakano%29/01%3A_Plant_Identificatio
n/1.14%3A_Plant_Morphology_-_Leaves