LEAFY FACTS

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SIMPLE LEAF –The broad flat part of a leaf is called the blade. The blade is connected to the stem or petiole. The stem supports the blade and turns it towards the sun. The bud grows at the base of the leaf. The midrib is the central stalk of the leaf.

COMPOUND LEAF – In some plants, the blades are divided into a number of small leaves called leaflets. A compound leaf has a number of leaves arranged in two rows facing each other along the midrib. One leaflet may grow at the tip of the midrib of some compound leaves. Buds always appear at the base of the leaf, never at the base of the leaflets.

MORE LEAFY FACTS - A blade of grass, a pine needle, a fern frond, and a maple leaf are all leaves. Most leaves need light, air, and water. Leaves contain green cells to make food for the entire plant.

Leaves look very different, however. Every plant has its own distinctive kind of leaf. Leaves help us identify plants like fingerprints identify people.

Needle like leaves can be divided into two groups. Needles can be attached singly to a stem. Other need like leaves have needles attached in bundles of two, three, and four.

Almost all other leaves can be grouped into broad leaves. Broad leaves can be further classified by their pattern of veins.

In palms, grasses, and other plants, the veins run parallel to one another from the petiole to blade tip.

The branched or webbed group can be classified into 2 groups – pinnate (featherlike) or palmate (fanlike).

In the pinnate group, the veins branch out from the midrib like barbs of a feather.

The veins in a palmate leaf fan out from the petiole and form a network of smaller veins through the leaf.

Adapted from 1990 Aims Education Foundation