The leaf is a thin, broad, flat and green part of a plant which is attached to the stem (or branch). plural of leaf is leaves. A plant has a large number of leaves. Leaves of different plants have differe shapes and sizes, but all of them have the same basic structure.
A leaf consists mainly of two parts: lamina and petiole (see Figure 8). Lamina is commonly ke o as leaf blade and petiole is commonly known as leaf stalk. The broad, green part of the leaf is called lan th The thin stalk with which leaf is attached to the stem (or branch) is called 'petiole. There is a mid tr (main vein) in the centre of lamina (or leaf blade). A large number of veins spread out from the mid Rib to all the parts of the leaf. The mid-rib and veins consist of bundles of tiny tubes some of which carry water (and dissolved minerals) into the leaf, and others carry away the food from the leaf.
There are minute pores on the surface of a leaf (which are called stomata). Stomata are so small that we cannot see them with naked eyes. The stomata allow the gases to move in and out of the leaf. They also allow excess water vapour to go out of the leaf. The leaves of plants contain a green coloured pigment called 'chlorophyll'. Chlorophyll imparts green colour to the leaves. Chlorophyll can absorb (or trap) energy from sunlight.
The leaves of plants have three main functions:
(1) The leaves make food for the plant (by photosynthesis).
(ii) The leaves get rid of excess water from the plant(through transpiration).
(iii) The leaves carry out the process of respiration in plants (which is the production of energy from food).