Leaves are the powerhouse of plants.

In most plants, leaves are

the major site of food production for the plant. Structures within
a leaf convert the energy in sunlight into chemical energy that
the plant can use as food. Chlorophyll is the molecule in leaves
that uses the energy in sunlight to turn water (H O) and carbon
dioxide gas (CO ) into sugar and oxygen gas (O ). This process is
called photosynthesis.
2

Leaf Structure:
A leaf is made of many layers that are sandwiched
between two layers of tough skin cells (called the
epidermis). The epidermis also secretes a waxy substance
called the cuticle. These layers protect the leaf from
insects, bacteria, and other pests. Among the epidermal
cells are pairs of sausage-shaped guard cells. Each pair of
guard cells forms a pore (called stoma; the plural is
stomata). Gases enter and exit the leaf through the
stomata.

Most food production takes place in elongated cells called

palisade mesophyll. Gas exchange occurs in the air spaces
between the oddly-shaped cells of the spongy mesophyll.
Veins support the leaf and are filled with vessels that transport
food, water, and minerals to the plant.
Leaf Function:
Leaves are the powerhouse of plants. In most plants, leaves are the major site of food
production for the plant. Structures within a leaf convert the energy in sunlight into
chemical energy that the plant can use as food. Chlorophyll is the molecule in leaves
that uses the energy in sunlight to turn water (H 2O) and carbon dioxide gas (CO2) into
sugar and oxygen gas (O2). This process is called photosynthesis.

Leaf Structure:
A leaf is made of many layers that are sandwiched between two
layers of tough skin cells (called the epidermis). The epidermis also
secretes a waxy substance called the cuticle. These layers protect the
leaf from insects, bacteria, and other pests. Among the epidermal
cells are pairs of sausage-shaped guard cells. Each pair of guard cells
forms a pore (called stoma; the plural is stomata). Gases enter and
exit the leaf through the stomata.
Most food production takes place in elongated cells called palisade mesophyll. Gas
exchange occurs in the air spaces between the oddly-shaped cells of the spongy
mesophyll.
Veins support the leaf and are filled with vessels that transport food, water, and
minerals to the plant.

Leaf Margins:
Leaves come in many sizes and shapes; they are often used to help identify plants.
Some leaves are flat and wide; others are spiky and thin. Plant spines (like cactus
spines) are actually modified leaves.

Leaf Glossary:
air space - intercellular gaps within the spongy mesophyll. These gaps are filled with
gas that the plant uses (carbon dioxide - CO 2 ) and gases that the plant is expelling
(oxygen - O2, and water vapor).
axil - the angle between the upper side of the stem and a leaf or petiole.
chlorophyll - a molecule in leaves that can use light energy from sunlight to turn
water and carbon dioxide gas into sugar and oxygen (this process is called
photosynthesis). Chlorophyll is magnesium-based and is green.
compound leaf - a leaf that is divided into many separate parts (leaflets) along a
midrib (the rachis). All the leaflets of a compound leaf are oriented in the same plane.
crenate - having rounded teeth.
cuticle - the waxy, water-repelling layer on the outer surface of a leaf
that helps keep it from dying out (and protect it from invading bacteria,
insects, and fungi). The cuticle is secreted by the epidermis (including
the guard cells) and is often thinner on the underside of leaves. The
cuticle is generally thicker on plants that live in dry environments.
entire - having a smooth edge with neither teeth nor lobes.
epidermis - the protective, outler layer of cells on the surface of a leaf.
The guard cells (and stoma) are part of the epidermis. The surface of
Leaf Margins
many leaves is coated with a waxy cuticle which is secreted by the
epidermis.
guard cell - one of a pair of sausage-shaped cells that surround a stoma (a pore in a
leaf). Guard cells change shape (as light and humidity change), causing the stoma to
open and close.
lamina - the blade of a leaf.
leaf apex - the outer end of a leaf; the end that is opposite the petiole.
lobed - divided into rounded or pointed sections and the incisions (cuts) go less than
halfway to the midrib.
mesophyll - the chlorophyll-containing leaf tissue located between the upper and
lower epidermis. These cells convert sunlight into usable chemical energy for the
plant.
midrib - the central rib of a leaf - it is usually continuous with the petiole.
palisade mesophyll - a layer of elongated cells located under the upper epidermis.
These cells contain most of the leaf's chlorophyll, converting sunlight into usable
chemical energy for the plant.
parted (or cleft) - the margins between the irregular teeth go more than halfway to

the midrib.
petiole - a leaf stalk; it attaches the leaf to the plant.
photosynthesis - the process in which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon
dioxide into food energy (sugars and starches), oxygen and water. Chlorophyll or
closely-related pigments (substances that color the plant) are essential to the
photosynthetic process.
pinnate - a compound leaf that is made up of many small leaflets arranged in pairs on
either side of a long central midrib (the rachis). There is often a single terminal leaflet
at the end of the midrib.
serrate (or toothed) - having small, pointy teeth that point toward the tip of the leaf.
spongy mesophyll - the layer below the palisade mesophyll; it has irregularly-shaped
cells with many air spaces between the cells. These cells contain some chlorophyll.
The spongy mesophyll cells communicate with the guard cells (stomata), causing
them to open or close, depending on the concentration of gases.
stem - (also called the axis) the main support of the plant.
stipule - the small, paired appendages (sometimes leaf-life) that are found at the base
of the petiole of leaves of many flowering plants.
stoma - (plural stomata) a pore (or opening) in a plant's leaves where water vapor and
other gases leave and enter the plant. Stomata are formed by two guard cells that
regulate the opening and closing of the pore. Generally, many more stomata are on the
bottom of a leaf than on the top.
vein (vascular bundle) - Veins provide support for the leaf and transport both water
and minerals (via xylem) and food energy (via phloem) through the leaf and on to the
rest of the plant.

The following is a glossary of plant cell anatomy terms.

amyloplast - an organelle in some plant cells that stores starch.
Amyloplasts are found in starchy plants like tubers and fruits.
ATP - ATP is short for adenosine triphosphate; it is a highenergy molecule used for energy storage by organisms. In plant
cells, ATP is produced in
the cristae of mitochondria andchloroplasts.
cell membrane - the thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds
the cell, but is inside the cell wall. The cell membrane is
semipermeable, allowing some substances to pass into the cell
and blocking others.
cell wall - a thick, rigid membrane that surrounds a plant cell.
This layer of cellulose fiber gives the cell most of its support and

structure. The cell wall also bonds with other cell walls to form
the structure of the plant.
centrosome - (also called the "microtubule organizing center") a
small body located near the nucleus - it has a dense center and
radiating tubules. The centrosomes is where microtubules are
made. During cell division (mitosis), the centrosome divides and
the two parts move to opposite sides of the dividing cell. Unlike
the centrosomes in animal cells, plant cell centrosomes do not
have centrioles.
chlorophyll - chlorophyll is a molecule that can use light energy
from sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide gas into sugar
and oxygen (this process is called photosynthesis). Chlorophyll
is magnesium based and is usually green.
chloroplast - an elongated or disc-shaped organelle containing
chlorophyll. Photosynthesis (in which energy from sunlight is
converted into chemical energy - food) takes place in the
chloroplasts.
christae - (singular crista) the multiply-folded inner membrane
of a cell's mitochondrion that are finger-like projections. The
walls of the cristae are the site of the cell's energy production (it
is where ATP is generated).
cytoplasm - the jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in
which the organelles are located.
Golgi body - (also called the golgi apparatus or golgi complex)
a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that looks like a stack of
pancakes and is located near the nucleus. The golgi body
packages proteins and carbohydrates into membrane-bound

vesicles for "export" from the cell.

granum - (plural grana) A stack of thylakoid disks within
the chloroplast is called a granum.
mitochondrion - spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a
double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many times,
forming a series of projections (called cristae). The
mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) for the cell.
nuclear membrane - the membrane that surrounds the nucleus.
nucleolus - an organelle within the nucleus - it is where
ribosomal RNA is produced.
nucleus - spherical body containing many organelles, including
the nucleolus. The nucleus controls many of the functions of the
cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and contains DNA (in
chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the nuclear
membrane
photosynthesis - a process in which plants convert sunlight,
water, and carbon dioxide into food energy (sugars and
starches), oxygen and water. Chlorophyll or closely-related
pigments (substances that color the plant) are essential to the
photosynthetic process.
ribosome - small organelles composed of RNA-rich
cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis.
rough endoplasmic reticulum - (rough ER) a vast system of
interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted sacks that
are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the
outer nuclear membrane). Rough ER is covered with ribosomes

that give it a rough appearance. Rough ER transport materials

through the cell and produces proteins in sacks called cisternae
(which are sent to the Golgi body, or inserted into the cell
membrane).
smooth endoplasmic reticulum - (smooth ER) a vast system of
interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted tubes that
are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the
outer nuclear membrane). The space within the ER is called the
ER lumen. Smooth ER transport materials through the cell. It
contains enzymes and produces and digests lipids (fats) and
membrane proteins; smooth ER buds off from rough ER,
moving the newly-made proteins and lipids to the Golgi body
and membranes
stroma - part of the chloroplasts in plant cells, located within
the inner membrane of chloroplasts, between the grana.
thylakoid disk - thylakoid disks are disk-shaped membrane
structures in chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll. Chloroplasts
are made up of stacks of thylakoid disks; a stack of thylakoid
disks is called a granum. Photosynthesis (the production
of ATP molecules from sunlight) takes place on thylakoid disks.
vacuole - a large, membrane-bound space within a plant cell that
is filled with fluid. Most plant cells have a single vacuole that
takes up much of the cell. It helps maintain the shape of the cell.