A leaf is actually called ‘the kitchen of the plant’. This is because they are the main organ responsible for photosynthesis, through which the plant produces its energy a.k.a. it’s food. They obtain their green color due to the presence of chlorophyll. Let us learn more about them.
Leaf
A leaf is the green, flat lateral outgrowth in plants. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, and are generally dorso-ventrally flattened and thin. They are the main organ responsible for photosynthesis as they contain chlorophyll.
Browse more Topics under Anatomy Of Flowering Plants
Plant Tissues
Tissue System
Stem
Inflorescence
Secondary Growth
Flower
The Fruit
The Seed
Classification of Flowering Plants
Anatomy of Dicotyledonous and Monocotyledonous Plants
Parts of a Leaf
Leaves have two main parts: The leaf blade and the Stalk or the petiole.
The leaf blade: It is also called the lamina. It’s generally broad and flat. It is in this layer that photosynthesis occurs. It contains a prominent midrib at the center of the leaf blade which is the main vein. From this midrib arise branches called veins. They are of different types depending upon the type of edges, the pattern of the veins and the number of blades per leaf.
The petiole: It is the stalk-like structure which connects the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole has tiny tubes, that connect the veins on the leaf blade to the stem. Few of these enable water transport to the leaf while the other carry food away from the leaf to other parts of the plant.
Some plants also contain another part called stipules. These are small flap-like structures that grow at the base of the petioles. They are protective in some plants when they protect the growing petiole while in others, they fall off once the petiole starts growing.