3: Leaf Anatomy and Environmental Adaptations

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the lecture notes on leaf anatomy and environmental adaptations.

Foliage Leaves

Main type of leaf primarily responsible for photosynthesis.

Bracts

Small, scale-like leaves that subtend flowers or inflorescences, protecting flower buds.

Cataphylls

Thick modified leaves that protect young leaf or flower buds during winter.

Spines

Sharp modified leaves that provide protection from herbivores, non-photosynthetic.

Tendrils

Modified leaves used for support in climbing plants.

Cotyledons

Seed leaves part of the embryo that provide energy for growth, analogous to leaves.

Stipules

Appendages at the base of the petiole in some leaves that protect young leaves.

Carnivorous Leaves

Modified leaves that capture animals to gain nitrogen and nutrients.

Ligules

Tissue ridges that surround grass leaf sheaths, helpful in identifying monocot species.

Trichomes

Leaf hairs that can serve protective and physiological functions like UV protection.

Phyllotaxy

The arrangement of leaves along the stem; types include alternate, opposite, and whorled.

Simple Leaves

Leaves with a single blade, may be petiolate or sessile.

Compound Leaves

Leaves with multiple leaflets attached to a central rachis.

Venation

Patterns of veins in leaves, including parallel, reticulate, and palmate.

Leaf Primordia

Early leaf growth developing from the stem apical meristem.

Mesophyll

Leaf tissue made of palisade and spongy parenchyma, where photosynthesis occurs.

Stomata

Small openings in the epidermis of leaves for gas exchange, regulated by guard cells.

Environmental Adaptations

Changes in leaf structure and function that help plants survive in different conditions.

Hydrophytes

Plants adapted to aquatic environments; have variations like large air spaces.

Xerophytes

Plants adapted to dry environments; features include thick cuticles and water storage.

Idioblasts

Specialized cells containing toxic chemicals or crystals, often found in xerophytes.

Opuntia

A type of cactus known for its water storage capabilities and unique adaptations.