Scribd
Upload
160 views10 pages

Leaf Structure

Uploaded by

Kristina Ponce
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
160 views10 pages

Leaf Structure

Uploaded by

Kristina Ponce
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

Leaves:

Form and structure

Chapter 6
The Plant Body: Leaves
• FUNCTION OF LEAVES
– Leaves convert light
energy to chemical energy
And so, on to leaves
• Leaves are the principle
structure, produced on
stems, where photosynthesis
takes place.

• Cacti are an exception. The


leaves are reduced to spines,
and the thick green, fleshy
stems are where
photosynthesis takes place.
General leaf form
• Leaves are the main
photosynthetic organs of most
plants
– but green stems are also
photosynthetic.
Blade
– While leaves vary extensively
in form, they generally consist
of a flattened blade and a
stalk, the petiole, which joins
the leaf to a stem node.
Petiole
• Most monocots have parallel major
veins that run the length of the
blade, while dicot leaves have a
multi branched network of major
veins.

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as


Benjamin Cummings
Leaf Arrangement on the Stem

• Plant taxonomists use leaf shape, spatial arrangement of leaves,


and the pattern of veins to help identify and classify plants.

– A Simple leaves have a single, undivided blade, while compound


leaves have several leaflets attached to the petiole.

– A Compound leaf has a bud where its petiole attaches to the


stem, not at the base of the leaflets.

Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings


Leaves - Comparisons
Monocots and dicots differ in the arrangement of
veins, the vascular tissue of leaves

Most dicots have Monocots have parallel


branch-like veins and leaf veins and longer,
palmate leaf shape slender blades
Structures of the
Leaf
Cuticle – the outermost layer of both
the upper and lower surfaces of the
leaf. It is clear and waxy to prevent
against water loss.

Epidermis – a layer of cells one cell


thick that provides protection for the
inner tissues. These cells are clear to
allow light to reach the photosynthetic
tissues.

Mesophyll – between the epidermal


layers. It contains palisade cells that
are tall, tightly packed, and filled
with chloroplasts for photosynthesis.
Structures of the
Leaf
Stomates – openings in the surface of
the leaf and stems for gas exchange.
The lower surface of a leaf usually has
more. Water vapor also passes out
through these holes.

Veins – contain the vascular tissue that


is continuous with that in the stem.
Xylem carries water and minerals
upward. Phloem carries dissolved food
throughout the plant.
Stomatal control
• When water is abundant:
• Temporal regulation of
stomata is used:
– OPEN during the day
– CLOSED at night
• At night there is no
photosynthesis, so no demand
for CO2 inside the leaf
• Stomata closed to prevent
water loss
• Sunny day - demand for CO2 in
leaf is high – stomata wide
open
• As there is plenty of water,
plant trades water loss for
photosynthesis products
Specialized Leaves
Figure 11.12 (2)
• The Venus fly trap has an “active
trap”

• Good control over turgor pressure


in each plant cell.

• When the trap is sprung, ion


channels open and water moves
rapidly out of the cells.

• Turgor drops and the leaves slam


shut

• Digestive enzymes take over

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy