LEAF

MORPHOLOGY

MORPHOLO
GY
Morphology is a branch of biology
dealing with the study of the form
and structure of organisms and their
specific structural features.
This includes aspects of the outward
appearance(shape,structure,colour,p
attern), i.e.External morphology
as well as the form and structure of
the internal parts i.e. Internal
morphology or Anatomy.

WHAT IS A
LEAF????
Leaf is an organ of vascular
plant and is the principal
lateral appendage of the
stem. The leaves and stem
together form a shoot.
Foliage is a mass noun that
refers to leaves collectively.

LEAF
MORpHOLOGY

A structurally complete
leaf consists of a Petiole
(leaf stalk), a
Lamina(leaf blade) and
Stipules(small structures
located to either side of
the base of the petiole)
The petiole mechanically
links the leaf to the plant
and provides the route for
transfer of water and
sugars to and from the
leaf. The lamina is
typically the location of
the majority of
photosynthesis.

MAJ
OR
SEC
TIO
NS
OF
THE

EPIDERMIS
: The
epidermis is
the outer
layer of cells
covering the
leaf. It is
covered with
a waxy
cuticle which
is
impermeabl
e to liquid
water and
water vapor
and forms
the

EPIDERMAL
CELLS

CROSS SECTION OF A
LEAF

MESOPHYLL:
Most of the
interior of the
leaf between the
upper and lower
layers of
epidermis is a
parenchyma(grou
nd tissue) or
chorenchyma
tissue called the
mesophyll. This
assimilation
tissue is the
primary location
of

SPONGY
MESOPHYLL
CELLS

The veins are the vascular

tissue of the leaf and are
located in the spongy layer
of the mesophyll. The
pattern of the veins is
called Venation. In
angiosperms the venation
is typically parallel in
monocotyledons and forms
an interconnecting network
in broad-leaved plants.
A vein is made up of a
vascular bundle. At the core
of each bundle are clusters
of two distinct types of
conducting cells:
1. XYLEM: cells that bring
water and minerals from

V
EI
N

B
AS
IC
LE
AF
TY
PE
S

Ferns have fronds

Conifer leaves are
typically needle or
scale-shaped
Angiosperm(flowering
plant) leaves: the
standard form includes
stipules, a petiole and a
lamina.
Lycophytes having
microphyll leaves.
Sheath leaves( type
found in most grasses
and many other
monocots)
Other specialized
leaves (such as those of
Nepenthes, a pitcher
plant)

DI
VIS
IO
NS
OF
TH

Two basic forms of leaves

can be described
considering the way the
blade(lamina) is divided. A
simple leaf has an
undivided blade. However,
the leaf shape may be
formed of lobes, but the
gaps between lobes do not
reach to the main vein.
A compound leaf has a
fully subdivided blade,
each leaflet of the blade
being separated along a
main or secondary vein.
Because each leaflet can

C
H
A
R
A
C
T
E
R
I
S

Petiolated leaves have a

petiole and are said to be
petiolate.
Sessile leaves do not :
the blade attaches
directly to the stem.
Subpetiolate leaves are
nearly petiolate, or
having an extremely
short petiole and appear
sessile.
In claping or decurrent
leaves,the blade partially
or wholly surrounds the
stem, often giving the
impression that the
shoot grows through the
leaf.
In some Acacia species,
such as the koa tree, the
petioles are expanded or
broadened and function
like leaf blades ;these
are called phyllodes.

IO
T
E
P

E
LAT

SE
S

SIL
E

THANK YOU!
NAME-SHRIYA JAIN
CLASS-VI-D
ROLL NO.-19
HOUSE-BEAS