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Leaf Anatomy
The leaf is an organ composed of primary tissue, thus it originates from the apical meristem and
primary meristems. The vascular tissue is derived from the procambium and is contained in
vascular bundles as in the stem. In contrast to the stem, xylem of the leaf vascular bundle is
located on the top with the phloem underneath. The ground tissue (originating from the
ground meristem) of the dicot leaf is composed of two types of cells:
1. palisade mesophyll - tightly packed columnar cells, full of chloroplasts just beneath the
upper epidermis.
2. spongy mesophyll - loose tissue with many intercellular spaces. It is usually found just
underneath the palisade layer.
The leaf epidermis originates from the protoderm and contains several structures called
stomata through which gas exchange takes place. Stomata are frequently more abundant on
the abaxial epidermis.
An observation of a leafy branch from above will show that leaf overlap is minimal. There are
however some anatomical leaf differences. The anatomy of leaves in some species may vary
with the position of leaves on the plant. Some of the most important differences are related to
differences in light intensity. Leaves at the top of the canopy and exposed to full sunlight on a
daily basis are known as sun leaves. Those that are permanently shaded near the base of the
tree are shade leaves.
Observe differences such as area and thickness of leaf, stomatal frequency, the number of
palisade layers present, and the number of chloroplasts in each palisade cell. What advantages
may result from these differences?
Study the transverse sections of the following leaves and note their characteristics. Prepare
tissue maps showing extent of the tissues and arrangement relative to each other. For each
type of tissue do a HP drawing of a few representative cells.
1. The prominent mid-rib containing a few large and some smaller vascular bundles.
Phloem is toward the abaxial, lower, surface with xylem toward the adaxial, upper
surface.
2. The supporting tissue collenchymas in this case beneath both surfaces of the midrib
with parenchyma packing the rest of the space.
c. spongy mesophyll
This typically xeromorphic leaf shows many characteristics designed to conserve water.
Xerophytes usually have a high volume to surface area ratio.
2. large air spaces in the spongy mesophyll resulting in a large intercellular space volume
4. Weak vascular bundle development, bundles are relatively few and small.
The sections differ anatomically. What advantages may result from these differences?
Identify the sun, and identify the shade leaf. Give reasons in your annotations.
Clegg with D G Mackean. 1996. A laboratory Course Practical Biology for A-Level. Yeo Chee Kai
and Lim Peng Ann. 1979. Singapore.