Types of Leaves in Plants – Plants provide food for all life on this planet. Leaves provide food for plants, plants provide food for all living organisms on earth.
Without plants, all other food chains would fail. You can add to his knowledge about leaves in order to know the best conditions for growing flowers, fruits and vegetables through this article.
If You wants to have knowledge about leaves, you can understand how plants relate to other organisms and the biodiversity of an area.
What is a Leaf?
Of course, You knows that every plant has leaves with the same basic structure, namely midribs, stalks and leaf blades. Leaves are one of the most important plant organs for plants.
Leaves can absorb solar energy to be used as a material for photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis is able to provide the food that plants need to survive.
Through this process, incoming sunlight energy will convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose. The resulting glucose acts as a food source for plants. It can be said that the survival of plants is greatly influenced by leaves.
Classified as obligate autotrophic organisms, plants must be able to produce their own food to meet their energy needs. In general, green leaves contain a substance called chlorophyll .
Then the leaf color has a difference on the top and bottom surfaces. Usually the upper surface of the leaf looks more shiny green when compared to the lower surface of the leaf.
The difference in color on the surface occurs because the upper surface of the leaf has more green matter than the lower surface of the leaf. As the first food producers in the food chain, plants have the ability to cook their own food.
In addition, leaves have important organs called stomata as respiratory organs for plants. In conclusion, in general leaves have a function as a place for photosynthesis, evaporation of water, respiration, and absorbing oxygen in the air.
Each type of plant has different shapes and leaf veins because leaves are one of the biometrics that plants have. Leaf shapes vary, some are elongated, oval, heart, and others.
Then there are leaves that are modified and shaped like cactus plants. Based on the structure of the leaves are divided into two, namely complete leaves and incomplete leaves.
A leaf with a complete structure will have a leaf sheath ( vagina), stalk ( petilous), and leaf blade ( lamina ). The leaf midrib ( vagina), is generally only owned by monocotyledoneae plants .
Part of the leaf stalk ( petilous) serves as a support for the leaf blade to position the leaves to get sunlight perfectly. In the leaf blade ( lamina) the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and so on occur.
The leaves of each plant have different shapes, colors and sizes. Inside the strand of each leaf there are leaf bones. Leaves can be categorized based on the leaf bones.
You can add to their knowledge by studying or getting to know more about leaves based on their veins. How many types of leaf bones do you know? This article will take you to understand the types of leaf bones. So, read this article to the end.
Leaf Bone Function
This part of the leaf acts as a support so that the leaves become strong like bones in the human or animal body. In addition to functioning as a support, leaf bones are one of the organs for transporting substances needed by plants in the process of growth and development.
Leaf veins can also determine the characteristics and classification of the leaf itself. Why? Because the leaf bones will form a skeletal structure that forms the basis of the leaf shape.
Different leaf vein patterns can be used to differentiate leaf species of the same shape. Leaf veins have a shape resembling veins and are one of the unique features of leaves.
Types of Leaf Bones Based on the Size
Vein-shaped veins are one of the unique features that scientists are interested in doing research on. Based on the size, the leaf veins can be divided into three types, namely the mother bone ( costa), branch bones ( lateral nerve), and leaf veins ( veins).
The three types of leaf bones are interconnected with one another. All three mutually determine the formation of the bones of the leaves. Check out the following explanation.
1. Mother Bone ( costa)
The mother bone is usually the largest leaf bone which becomes a continuation of the petiole. Costa is found in the middle of the leaf, longitudinally, and splits the leaf.
The mother bone or costa can be said to be the largest leaf bone when compared to other leaf bones. The mother strand of bone or ribs is generally divided into two parts, namely symmetrical or symmetrical and asymmetrical or not.
In the symmetrical or symmetrical section, the midrib will be located in the middle of the leaf blade so that the right and left sides of the leaf are the same. However, there are plants that do not have a mother leaf bone or rib in the middle of the leaf. This makes both the right and left leaves become asymmetrical or not symmetrical.
2. Branches ( lateral nerve )
This leaf bone has a smaller size when compared to the mother bone or costa. The lateral nerve usually originates from the mother bone or the branches of this leaf.
Why are they called branch bones? Because the position of the leaf bone is visible based on how close it is to the mother bone. Branches originating from the mother bone are called first-order branches, then first-order branches that branch out are called second-order branches, and so on. Each of the branch bones will depend on the mother bone.
3. Leaf veins ( veins)
Leaf veins or veins are branch bones that are smaller in size and have a soft or smooth texture between one another. Leaf veins or veins will usually form like roads or paths. The formation of leaf veins will be assisted by larger branch bones.
Kinds of Leaves Based on the Arrangement
After understanding the types of veins based on their size, now is the time for You to study the veins based on their arrangement. Leaf veins based on their arrangement are classified into four types, namely pinnate veins ( penninervis), finger veins ( palminervis), curved veins ( cervinervis), and parallel veins ( rectinervis). Check out the explanation below.
1. Pinnate Leaf Bone ( penninervis)
As the name suggests, this one leaf bone has a shape like the arrangement of fish bones. Leaf veins of this type are often seen in dicotyledonous seed plants ( Dicotyledoneae). Plants with pinnate or penninervis bones include guava leaves, mango leaves, jackfruit leaves, rambutan leaves, durian leaves, melinjo leaves, and others.
2. Finger Leaf Bones ( palminervis)
This type of leaf bone has an arrangement like extended fingers. The tip of the leaf stalk will release several bones that radiate like a finger arrangement.
Usually, the finger bones are odd in number with the middle part being the largest and elongated. While the side will look shorter. Plants with finger bones or palminervis include cassava leaves, papaya leaves, castor leaves, cucumber leaves, pumpkin leaves, and others.
3. Curved Leaf Bone ( cervinervis)
As the name implies, this one leaf bone has an arrangement of curved lines. Generally these leaves will have one large bone in the middle and the other bones will follow the edge of the leaf.
The scattered veins will return in one direction at the leaf tip. The ends of the leaf bones will appear curved and fused. Plants with curved leaf bones or cervinervis include genjer leaves, hibiscus leaves, betel leaves, water hyacinth leaves, gadung leaves, and others.
4. Parallel Leaf Bones ( rectinervis)
The bones of this leaf will generally be shaped like parallel straight lines as the name suggests. In the form of a parallel or rectinervis leaf vein , the leaf has one large longitudinal bone in the middle and the other bones appear smaller.
All parallel veins are usually seen to be parallel to the main spine. Plants with parallel veins or rectinervis include corn leaves, sugarcane leaves, rice leaves, coconut leaves, and all types of grass.