Leaf

Principle appendage of any vascular plant or leaves. Collectively leaves are known as foliage. The color of leaves is dependent on the presence of the pigment in them if they have a green pigment called chlorophyll then the leaves will be of green color if another pigment is present then it will give color to the leaves accordingly. It is a lateral, flattened structure arising from the axial or below the node.

Parts of Leaf

• Leaf base
• Stipules
• Petiole
• Lamina/Leaf Blade
• Veins/Veinlets/Midrib
• Axillary buds

Venation

• Reticulate Venation: Here the veins and veinlets are unevenly dispersed throughout the whole lamina producing a network. Found in dicots.
• Parallel Venation: It is a vein configuration in which the veins run parallel to one another. It is mostly found in monocot leaves.

Types of Leaves

• Simple Leaf: Here the lamina is entire or when incised, the incisions don’t reach the midrib. 
• Compound Leaf: Here the incisions reach the midrib dividing the leaf into many small leaflets. These are further two types:
  • Pinnately compound: Here a number of leaflets are present on a common axis called the rachis. Eg: Neem.
  • Palmately compound: Here the leaflets are attached at a common point. Eg: Silk cotton.

Morphology refers to the study of forms or external features of an organism. While studying the morphology of an organism we focus on its external appearance and on parts that are easily visible to the naked eye. Fruits, leaves, flowers, stems, and roots are the important part of a flowering plant which is included under the morphology of a plant. The plant body has two main systems the Root system and the Shoot system. The underground part of a flowering plant is called the root system. The portion above forms the shoot system. Approx. 3,00,000 species are included in the category of flowering plants. Wide diversity can be seen in this category. It is observed and believed by the ancestors that the first flowering plant was seen 140 million years ago. The most important part of the flowering plant is the flower which is also the reproductive part of the flower. When pollen from the male flower goes to the stamen of the female flower then fertilization will take place leading to the formation of seed.