UNIT - I ( Allied Botany II )
UNIT - I ( Allied Botany II )
UNIT - I ( Allied Botany II )
Plants are an essential part of the ecosystem. Every life on the earth
is directly or indirectly dependent on plants. Among the different parts of a plant,
the leaf is the most essential.
Primarily, leaves have two functions: photosynthesis and transpiration.
In some plants, it takes up the responsibility of reproduction also.
Structure of a Leaf :
Leaves are thin, flat organs responsible for photosynthesis in the plants. It develops
laterally at the node. It is an important part of the shoot system and it originates
from shoot apical meristems.
Leaf base
Stipules
Petiole
Lamina
Leaf base
This is the region where a leaf joins the stem. The leaf base is broad and covers the
stem in plants like rice, wheat, and other monocotyledons.
The base of the leaf in some plants contains two tiny stipules that resemble
miniature leaves. Such plants are said to be stipulate plants.
Fig: Stipules
Petiole
The leaf lamina is joined to the stem or branch by the petiole, also known as the
mesopodium, or stalk of the leaf. The leaf should be positioned for optimal light
exposure. Long, thin, and flexible petioles enable the leaf blade to flap in the wind,
which aids in bringing fresh air to the leaf surface. Sessile leaves are those without
a petiole, whereas petiolate leaves are those with one.
Fig: Lamina
Types of leaves
Leaves can be classified into various types based on various criteria such as life
span, the shape of the leaf blade and the role they perform in the plant body.
Based on life span
On the basis of life span, leaves can be classified as -
Caducous - The leaves fall off soon after their separation and elaboration from
the bud, as seen in Opuntia.
Deciduous - The leaves remain on the plant throughout the growing season and
fall off upon the approach of unfavourable season like autumn and winter, e.g.,
mulberry.
Persistent - The leaves live for more than one year and through both favourable
and unfavourable seasons. Such leaves are also known as evergreen leaves, e.g,
Mango.
Foliage leaves - these are the green photosynthesising leaves that are borne
laterally on the nodes of the stem or branches.
Cotyledons - these are the seed leaves which are borne over the node of the
embryo axis and help in storage of food for the growing embryo.
Scale leaves or cataphylls - these are small stalkless reduced forms of leaves
which can store food, as seen in onion. Scale leaves of onion also help to protect
the bud.
Bracts - these are leaf-like structures at the axil of flowers which can help in
attracting pollinators when they are large and coloured, e.g., Bougainvillaea.
Floral leaves - These are modified leaves that are borne on the thalamus of a
flower and serve as non-essential flower whorls such as petals and sepals. Petals
help in attracting pollinators while the sepals help in protecting the flower at
bud stage.
Sporophylls - These are modified leaves which form the essential floral whorls,
namely, androecium and gynoecium. These leaves are specialised to bear a
sporangium within which sexual spores are formed.
Simple leaf
The term "simple leaf" refers to a leaf that has a single lamina and a petiole
connecting it to the main stem. The lamina of simple leaves can have incisions to
any depth, but they cannot be up to the midrib or petiole. Examples include guava
leaves.
Unifoliate
Bifoliate
Trifoliate
Quadrifoliate
Multifoliate
Unifoliate
These types of leaves have three leaflets and all are emerging
from the same point. Examples include Oxalis.
Trifoliate
These types of leaves have four leaflets that are arising from the
Quadrifoliate same point. Examples include Marsilea.
Fig: Quadrifoliate leaf
This kind of leaf has numerous leaflets that emerge from a single
point as in Bombax.
Multifoliate
Tripinnate
Decompound
Parts of a Leaf
Generally, leaf base, petiole, and lamina, together form the main parts of a leaf.
Leaf Base: This is the part where a leaf attaches to the stem. Leaf base has
two small leaf-like structure called stipules. In plants like paddy, wheat, and
other monocotyledons, this leaf base is wide and masks the stem.
Petiole: Petiole is the long, thin, stalk that links the leaf blade to the stem.
Lamina: Also known as leaf blade. It is the green, flat surface of the leaves.
It consists of a small branched vein and veinlets. The vein that runs along
the middle of the lamina is called midrib. Midrib divides the surface of the
lamina into two. These veins and veinlets give rigidity to the leaf blade and
help in the transportation of water and other substances.
Venation
Venation is defined as the arrangement of veins and the veinlets in the leaves.
Different plants show different types of venation. Generally, there are two types of
venation:
Reticulate venation
Parallel venation: In a parallel venation, the veinlets run parallel to each
other. Ex: In monocotyledons like paddy.
Parallel venation
Types of Leaves
There are two broad categories of leaves – simple and compound, which are
further classified into different groups based on their shape, size, their
arrangements on the stem, leaves of flowering and non-flowering plants, and
various other physical attributes.
The two different types of leaves found in a plant are:
Simple Leaf
When a single lamina is connected to the main stem by a petiole, the leaf is said to
be simple. A simple leaf may be incised to any depth but not down to the midrib or
petiole. Eg., Guava leaves
Compound Leaf
A compound leaf is a leaf made up of two or more leaflets. In a compound leaf,
the midrib of the leaf is branched into different leaflets and is connected by a single
petiole. For eg., Pea, palm leaves.
1. Unifoliate: These type of leaves have only one leaflet. Eg., Citrus
2. Bifoliate: These leaves have two leaflets. Eg., Balanites
3. Trifoliate: These leaves have three leaflets emerging from the same point.
Eg., Oxalis
4. Quadrifoliate: These leaves have four leaflets arising from the same point.
Eg., Marsilea
5. Multifoliate: This type of leaf has many leaflets arising at a common pint.
Eg., Bombax
Pinnately Compound Leaf
In a pinnately compound leaf, the midrib of the leaf is divided into numerous
leaflets and all connected by a common axis. Eg., Neem. These can be further
differentiated into:
1. Pinnate: A compound leaf that has an axis on each side of the midrib is
known as a pinnate leaf.
2. Unipinnate: The leaf with leaflets on each side of the axis. Eg., cassia
3. Bipinnate: Here, a secondary axis bearing the leaflet is produced by the
central axis. Eg., Acacia
4. Tripinnate: Here, a tertiary axis bearing leaflets emerges from the
secondary axis. Eg., Moringa
5. Decompound: Leaf with more than three pinnate. Eg., old leaves of
coriander
6. Parapinnate: A leaf without a terminal leaflet. Eg., Cassia
7. Imparipinnate: Leaf with an odd terminal leaflet. Eg., Pea
When more than two leaves develop at the nodes to form a whorl of leaves,
it is called whorled phyllotaxy. E.g. Alstonia.
Modification Of Leaves
We know leaves are specialised to perform photosynthesis. In addition, they also
have other significant roles to play, such as support, storage of food, defence, etc.
For each of these functions, they have been modified into different forms.
For example, tendrils of peas, spines of cacti, onion bulb, leaves of insectivorous
plants, etc. are different modified leaves. Let us have a detailed look at some of the
modification of leaves:
Storage Leaves
The xerophytic plants and plants belonging to the Crassulaceae family have thick
and succulent leaves that store water in their tissues. The parenchymatous cells of
these leaves have large vacuoles filled with hydrophilic colloid. This modification
helps the plant to resist desiccation.
Leaf Tendrils
Leaf tendrils exist in plants with weak stems. The leaves get modified into thread-
like structures called tendrils. These tendrils climb a nearby stick or wall and
provide support to the plant. For eg., In Lathyrus aphaca, the whole leaf is
modified into tendrils. The upper leaflets of Pisum sativum get modified into
tendrils.
Leaf Spines
A few plants have their leaves modified into needle-like structures known as
spines. The spines act as defensive structures. They also reduce water loss due to
transpiration. For eg., in Opuntia, the leaves are modified into spines.
Scale Leaves
These are thin, membranous structures, without stalks, brownish or colourless in
appearance. They protect the auxiliary bud present in their axil. Scale leaves in
onion are fleshy and thick and store food and water. Casuarina and Asparagus also
contain sale leaves
Leaflet Hooks
In some plants, the terminal leaflets of leaf get modified into hook-like structures
that help them in climbing. Eg., Bignonia unguiscati.
Leaf Roots
In a few plants, one of the leaves present at the nodes gets modified into
adventitious roots which helps them to float over the water surface. Eg., Salvinia
Phyllode
In some plants, the petiole becomes flattened, taking the shape of a leaf and turns
green in colour. This is known as phyllode. For eg., Australian Acacia.
Insectivorous Leaves
Few plants require nitrogen for their development. In such plants, the leaves are
modified to catch and digest insects. Few of the modifications are mentioned
below:
Functions of Leaves
The leaves perform the following functions:
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the primary function of leaves. They convert carbon dioxide,
water, and UV light into glucose through the process of photosynthesis.
Transpiration
Transpiration is the removal of excess water from the plants into the atmosphere.
This occurs by the opening of stomata present in the leaves.
Guttation
Removal of excess water from the xylem at the edges of the leaves when the
stomata are closed is known as guttation.
Storage
Leaves are a site of photosynthesis. Therefore, they store water and nutrients. The
succulent and thick leaves particularly adapt to water storage.
Defence
Some leaves are modified into spines to protect them from being damaged or eaten
by animals. For eg., Opuntia.