Activity

Organoleptic Evaluation of the Different Parts of the Plant (Leaves)

No.2

Brief Description of the Activity

The activity mainly tackles about the leaves and its characteristics that includes outline
apex, base, margin, venation, texture, and surface

Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students must be able to:
1. Define and illustrate different compositions, parts, bases, margins, venations, textures,
surfaces, and surface covering of leaves;
2. Identify parts of leaves, and its physical appearance;
3. Answer the following questions.
Materials
6 different types of leaves
Ruler, Hand lens

Procedure:
1. Clean the materials and place on the table
2. Examine the materials with the naked eye.
3. Record all observation on the table provided below.

Results/Observation:

A. Illustrate the different leaves

Balanghoy
Santol

Gumamela
 Fortune plant

Indian tree

B. Examine the parts and record the observations

Specimens 1. Santol 2.Balanghoy 3. 4. Fortune 5. Indian tree

Gumamela Plant

English name Cotton fruit Cassava Rosemallow Fortune plant Indian tree

Scientific Name Sandoricum Manihot Hibiscus Dracaena Polyalthia

koetjape esculenta sanderiana longifolia

Occurrence Opposite Alternate Alternate Rosette Alternate

Composition Simple Compound Simple Compound Simple

Shape Rhomboid Palmate Acuminate Linear Elliptical

Venation Pinnate Pinnate Pinnate Parallel Pinnate

Color Green/Dark Green Green/Yellow Green with Green

green green yellow stripes

Texture Brittle Papery Brittle Waxy Waxy

Surface Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous

 Questions:

1. Define and illustrate the following characteristics of leaves

A. Composition of leaves
Definition
Simple A leaf which has only one leaf blade or lamina is called a simple leaf. It may
be stipulate or exstipulate, petiolate or sessile, but always possess axillary
bud in its axil. It may have an undivided lamina or may be lobed, e.g.
vasaka, digitalis, eucalyptus, datura, carica, castor and argemone
Compound A compound leaf consists of more than one leaf blade or the lamina, the
compound leaf is divided into several segments called leaflets or pinnae,
e.g. senna, tamarind, acacia.
Palmate The leaflets form and radiate from a single point of attachment called the
distal end of the petiole or rachis. Another way to describe the palmate form
is that the whole leaf structure is "palm-like" and shaped like the palm and
fingers of your hand.
Pinnate Leaflets are attached along an extension of the petiole called a rachis; there
is a terminal leaflet and therefore an odd number of leafle
Bipinnate It consists of primary rachis and secondary rachis. The secondary rachis
only bears the leaflets, e.g. acacia

Illustrate the composition of leaves

Simple
Palmate
(Guava leaf)
(Cassava leaf)
Compound
(Tamarind leaf) Pinnate

(Carob leaf) Bipinnate

(Acacia leaf)

B. Parts of a leaf

Definition

Blade or Lamina The flat expanded part of the leaf is lamina or leaf blade (Epipodium).
Lamina may be thick as in xerophytic leaves or thin as in hydrophytes or
 intermediate as in mesophytes.

Petiole It is the stalk of leaf with which leaf blade is attached to the stem. It is also
known as mesopodium. It may be present in leaf or may be absent in leaf.
Leaves with petiole are called petiolate, and those without petiole sessile.
They may be short or long and cylindrical. Sometimes, it is flattened as in
the case of lemon. Then it is described as winged petiole. In some plants
the petiole undergoes modification to form the tendrillar petiole which helps
the plant to climb, e.g. clematis. In few aquatic plants it enlarges to form the
swollen petiole by enclosing air and thus keep the entire plant floating over
the water. In few other cases, the petiole enlarges to such an extent to form
the leaf like structure as in Australian acacia and is known asphyllode.

Stipules These are the two small outgrowths found at the base of the leaf, to protect
the axillary bud. Leaves may or may not have stipules. Leaves with stipules
are described as stipulate, while those without stipules are described as ex-
stipulate.

Illustrate and label the parts of a leaf

 C. Outline

Definition Illustration

Acicular- needlelike, i.e. pinus.

Pine

Linear- when it is long, narrow and flat, i.e.

Grasses.

Lemongrass

Lanceolate oblong- which look like lance

or spear shaped, e.g. nerium, senna.

Senna

Elliptical- when the leaves are narrow at

the base and apex but broad in the middle
such as guava, vinca, etc.
Guava
Ovate- egg shaped or broad base and
narrow apex, e.g. China rose, Buchu

Gumamela

Falcate- curved like a sickle; hooked

Mimosa

Orbicular- having the shape of a flat ring or

disk.

Water lily

Oblanceolate- lanceolate with the more

pointed end at the base
Daisy

Obovate- broad apex and narrow base, e.g.

Jangalibadam.
Jangli
badam
Cuneate- wedge shaped as in pista

Pista

Ensiform- shaped like a sword blade; long

and narrow with sharp edges and a pointed
tip.
Yucca

Lyrate- when it is lyre shaped or the blade

is divided into lobes with large marginal
lobe, i.e. radish mustard. Indian
mustard

D. Apex

Definition Illustration

Acute- when it is pointed to form acute angle,

but not stiff

Acuminate- pointed tip with much elongation

Obtuse- leaves that has rounded tip

Truncate- terminates abruptly in a nearly

straight horizontal edge.

Retuse- broad tip with slight notch

Emarginated- when tip is deeply notched

Obcordate- heart-shaped, with the narrow end

at the base

Mucronate- rounded apex ending abruptly in a

short point. Has a noticeable diminutive spines,
a mucronule.
Cuspidate- with spiny tip. Sharp, rigid, tip with
a cusp.

Artistate- usually prolonged, straight and stiff.

Recurved- when the apex is curved backward

Apiculate- ending abruptly in a small distinct

point

E. Base of a leaf

Definition Illustration

Acute- sharp-pointed base.

Acuminate- gradually narrowing at the base.

Obtuse- blunt or narrowly rounded base with
opposite sides forming an angle greater than 90
degrees at the position where the lamina joins the
petiole.

Cordate- heart shaped

Reniform- kidney shaped

Auriculate- when the leaf has got ear like projections

at the base.

Sagittate- arrow head shaped

Peltate- when the lamina is shield shaped and fixed
to the stalk by the centre.

Oblique or inequilateral- the leaf shows asymmetry

Decurrent- when the base of a leaf continues for a

distance along the stem

Hastate- when the two lobes of sagittate leaf are

directed outwards as in ipomoea

Truncate- appearing to terminate, as if by cutting off.

Perfoliate- With the bases of a single leaf fused
around the stem, which appear fo through the leaf
blade.

F. Margin

Illustration

Entire- having a smooth edge(even edged) with

neither teeth nor lobes.

Without indentations or incisions on maigins; smooth

Serrate- having a saw like margin with small tooth

that can vary in size (from very small to medium), in
sharpness (from needle-like to soft) and in shape
(from rounded to points

Dentate- with symmetrical teeth.

Crenate- with rounded teeth.

Wavy- the leaf margins are not divided but curve up

and down (undulate).

Incised- cut sharply and irregularly. Frequently these

types of leaves look like they have been torn or
ripped.

Lobed- having some type of indentation toward the

midrib that can vary in profundity and shape

G. Venation

Definition Illustration
Parallel- vein and veinlets in leaf blade are
arranged parallel to one another.

● It is characteristic to monocotyledonous
plants with few exceptions like dioscorea and
sarsaparilla

2 sub-classes:

(a) Unicostate parallel venation: The leaf consists

of only one midrib running from apex to the petiole
of the leaf. The veinlets and veins arise parallel to
one another on each side as in banana and canna.

(b) Multicostate parallel venation: In case of

Unicostate parallel venation- Banana leaf
multicostate parallel venation many number of main
veins of equal strength arise from the tip or the
petiole and run parallel to each other. It may be
convergent as in case of several grasses and Multicostate parallel venation- Fan palm
bamboo or divergent as in case of fan palm.

Pinnate- the leaflets are borne on an axis that is

continuation of the petiole
 Hickory tree leaves

Palmate- the leaflets arise from a common point at Maple leaf

the end of the petiole.

Reticulate- consist of many veins and veinlets in

the lamina of the leaf, arranged in the form of
network or reticulars.

● This type of venation is characteristic to

dicotyledonous leaves.

2 sub-classes:

(a)Unicostate-reticulate venation: Leaf contains Reticulate

only one midrib and several veins are given out on
both the sides to form the network such as henna, Unicostate-reticulate- Peepal leaf
eucalyptus,peepal, etc.

(b) Multicostate-reticulate venation: In this type

many veinsof equal strength arise from the end of
the petiole. Each vein further branches to give rise
to veinlets that form the network. The veins may be
convergent (meeting at the apex) or divergent
(diverge towards the margin) as incastor, carica
and cucurbita.
 Multicostate-reticulate- Castor leaf

H. Texture

Definitions

Coriaceous Having a leathery texture

Membranous Thin and pliable, more or less translucent. The leaves are easily
torn and to some extent translucent.

Succulent Plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged,
usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions

Brittle Easily broken

Papery Thin and dry like paper

Waxy Resembling wax in appearance

I. Surface

Definition Illustration

Glabrous- surface is smooth and free of hair Rubber tree leaves

or any outgrowth, i.e. vasaka, datura.

Rugose- wrinkled--typical leaves of the mint

family (Lamiaceae)
Peppermint leaves

Reticulate- forming a net or network.

Papillate- bearing minute, pimplelike
protuberances.

Ice plant

Muricate- having a surface covered by sharp

points or prickles.

Cactus

J. Surface Covering

Definition Illustration

Pubescent- covered with straight, short hair.

Senna
Glandular- glands filled with oil or resin cover
the surface.

Puberulent- covered with very short fine straight

erect hairs.

Tomentose- covered with not very long cottony

hairs or wool-like hair.

Cynara cardunculus leaves

2, What process is used to remove an excess of stems and other extraneous

matter from leaf drugs? Describe the process. When is it done?

● Process: Garbling
● sifting (sieving) or by means of currents of air
● particles of iron must be removed by use of magnets
● done at a time of collection but should be done after drug is dried and before it is
baled for packaged
 Garbling is the process used to remove an excess of stems and other extraneous
matter such as dirt and added adulterants from leaf drugs. It is often removed by sifting
(sieving) or by means of currents of air. In some cases, particles of iron must be
removed from the drug before it is ground by use of magnets. If garbling is not done, it
may lead to depreciation in market value of the drug and drug can't meet the legal
requirements. It is usually done at a time of collection but should be done after drug is
dried and before it is baled for packaged.

3. How are leaf drugs packaged and stored for commerce?

The packaging should provide protection to the drug as well as give economy in
space. Leaf and herb material is usually baled with power balers into a solid compact
mass. If they are not properly stored and preserved against reabsorption of moisture,
oxidation, excessive heat, growth of molds and bacteria and infestation of insects and
rodents then the quality of drug will decrease and eventually it will not be available to
the market.

4. What is a leaf bud? Give an unofficial example. Distinguish a lateral from a

terminal bud.

● A leaf bud is a bud on a plant from which a leaf develops. Example are Apricot
and Peach buds.
● Lateral buds are found on the side. Terminal bud occurs on the end of a stem

5. Conclusions (write at least 2 paragraphs)

Leaves are necessary for photosynthesis and gas exchange, in order for them to
absorb more light leaves are usually flat, thin and have various size and appearance.

By this activity, we have learned the different variety of leaves’ apices, bases,
margins and shapes that are essential for their growth and has a specific function to
make them identified easier.