TYPES OF

LEAVES
By
Dr Deepti Patil
 Definition
• A modified aerial appendage which
develops from a plant stem at a
node, usually contains chlorophyll,
and is the principal organ in which
photosynthesis occur.
• hep <hep_2007@rediffmail.com
•
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PARTS OF THE
LEAF

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 PARTS OF LEAF
• Apex — the tip or distal end of a leaf
• Margin — the outer edge of a leaf
blade
• Leaflet — an individual blade of a
compound leaf
• Midrib — the central or main vein of a
leaf
• Rachis — the midrib of a compound
leaf
• Blade (lamina) — the flat or expanded
part of a leaf
• Petiole — stalk of a leaf
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 FUNCTIONS OF LEAF
• Leaves have been modified to serve
many functions apart from simple
photosynthesis.
Tendrils
Spines (modified leaves or stipules)
Window leaves
Insect traps
Leaves modified for asexual reproduction
Bracts for attraction
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Leaf pollinators 5
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 TYPES
According to the petiole
According to the blade
According to the margin
According to the shape
According to the veins
According to the arrangement along
the stem
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
 ACCORDING TO THE
PETIOLE
• Petiolated leaves are those that have
a petiole. This can be different in
length from one plant to another.
• Sessile leaves do not possess a
petiole. The blade expands itself
directly from the stem.


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 ACCORDING TO THE
BLADE
• Simple leaves show an undivided
blade or , in case it has divisions,
they do not reach the midrib.
• Compound leaves have a fragmented
blade,with divisions reaching the
midrib. Sometimes each one of
these fragments is similar to a
single leaf. They are called
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 ACCORDING TO THE
MARGIN
• Entire leaves have a smooth margin.
• Undeulate leaves have little curves with
smooth edges like waves.
• Dentate leaves have little teeth at the
margin.
• Serrate leaves have little bent teeth like
those of a saw.
• Lobed leaves have divisions that do not
arrive the center of half blade
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 ACCORDING TO THE
SHAPE
• Elliptic leaves : remembering to a
ellipse. 2 or 3 times longer than
wide
• Lanceolate leaves : spear-shaped.
Gradually extending at the base
and lessening to the apex.
• Acicular leaves : needle-shaped.
Several times longer than wide;
ending sharply at the apex.
• Ovate leaves : egg-shaped. Wider at
the base than the apex.
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 Conti…..
• Cordate leaves : heart-shaped . More
extended at the base than the
ovate type and with a notch
• Hastate leaves: halberd-shaped.
Wider at the base but with lobes
ending sharply.
• linear leaves: strip-shaped. Several
times longer than wide. Not pointed
at the apex like in the acicular type.
•
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 ACCORDING TO THE
VEINS
• Parallel-veined leaves : the veins run at
the same distance to each other, like
in canes.
• Pinnate leaves : There is a main nerve,
called midrib, from which the other
nerves run.
• Palmate leaves: The nerves diverge
from the main point such as the
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 ACCORDING TO THE
ARRANGEMENT ALONG THE
STEM
• Alternate: one leaf per node at
different levels of the stem.
• Opposite: two per node, facing
opposite sides of the stem.
• Whorled: several leaves disposed at
the same level around the stem.
• Rosulate forming a rosette, like a ring
around the stem.
•
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 Leaf Petiole

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 Leaf Blade

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 LEAF VEINS

Pin n a te le a ve sParallel-veined leaves Pa lm a te

le a ve s
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 Leaf Arrangement

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 LEAF MARGINS

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 LEAF SHAPE

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 LEAF TIP

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 LEAF BASE

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 SHAPE

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 MARGIN

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 ARRANGEMENT

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• conifer — a tree with needle
or scale-like leaves
•

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