5.2: Introduction and Materials
- Page ID
- 134602
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Leaves are specialized organs for performing photosynthesis. A leaf is often a relatively large, flat surface used to optimize sunlight capture. However, surfaces are areas that water can evaporate from, so a large amount of surface area exposed to sunlight results in increased transpiration. The anatomy of a leaf has everything to do with achieving the balance between photosynthesis and transpiration in the environment in which the plant grows. Plants that grow in moist areas can grow large, flat leaves to absorb sunlight like solar panels because sunlight is likely more limiting than water. Plants in dry areas must prevent water loss and adapt a variety of leaf shapes and orientations to accomplish the dual tasks of water retention and sunlight absorption. In general, leaves adapted to dry environments are small and thick with a much lower surface area to volume ratio.
There is an experiment at the end of this lab that you should read through and make plans for as a class at the start of the lab.
Materials
- Ranunculus leaf cross-section slide
- Leaf model cross-section
- Nymphaea leaf cross-section slide
- Pinus leaf cross-section slide
- Nerium leaf cross-section slide
- Zea leaf cross-section slide
Materials for the experiment:
- An assortment of leaves of different shapes and sizes preferably collected from different environments. Note: These leaves should be collected at the same time to account for moisture loss, which will begin once removed from the plant.
- A ruler
- A digital scale
- A camera
- 1mm2 graph paper and pencils (optional - a computer with the program ImageJ)
- A calculator
- A contained, arid environment (e.g. an incubator at 30-37C)