The leaf is a plant organ that is part of land plants. It arises from the stem and photosynthesis is carried out in it, that is, where the food for the plants is produced.
In addition, the leaves release the oxygen needed for breathing by living beings. That is precisely its main function.
The Parts of the Sheets
The leaves can be formed by 4 parts (limbo, petiole, stipule and sheath). This means that, although there are 4 parts, not all sheets have the same structure:
- Limbo - is the best known part of the sheet, which is considered the sheet itself.
- Petiole - is the narrow part that is located between the limb and the stem.
- Stipule - is a small part that protects the petiole.
- Sheath - is the bottom of the sheet. It protects the stipulation.
Types of Sheets
There are several types of sheets. in addition to sheetscomplete (those that have a limb, petiole and sheath) and sheetsincomplete (those that do not have one of these 3 parts), basically they can be simple or composite.
- Sheetssimple - leaves that have only one limb. They are the most common.
- Sheetscomposed - leaves whose limb is divided. From this division arise the leaflets.
single sheet
composite sheet
At botany, the leaves can be classified according to the formoflimbo. They can also be classified according to dispositionFromyourleaflets (in the case of composite sheets):
- Impairedandparipenadas - When the number of leaflets present on the leaf is odd or even, respectively.
Impaired sheet
paripenate sheet
- spankingortyped - When all leaflets arise from the same petiole.
Webbed or typed sheet
- replenished - When leaflets are divided into other leaflets.
recomposed sheet
Inside the leaves there are ribs, which are the ramifications we see in your limbo.
According to the number of ribs and their shape, the leaves can be classified into:
- Uninervea - When the leaf has only one rib, such as the palm leaf.
- Parallelinerve - When the leaf has several ribs arranged in parallel, such as corn leaf.
- Peninsula - When the leaf has a main vein from which other veins appear, such as the leaf of roses.
Sheet Functions
The leaf has the function of producing food for the plants (photosynthesis) as well as releasing oxygen, which happens through the process of sweating and breathing.
Furthermore, the function of the leaves is to be food for many animals and even for housing for others.
But, the usefulness of the leaves does not stop there. The leaves are also used in pharmacology and cosmetics.
Meet the plant parts, O stalk and the types of flowers and their functions.
