Why do leaves have serrated edges

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JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Leaves Deformed, Smooth Edges??? Thread starter Jarhead Start date Nov 28, Jarhead Well-Known Member. This is only my second grow, so not familiar with all the issues. Simple leaves can grow in alternate arrangements or opposite arrangements on the stem. Examples of deciduous trees with simple leaves include maple trees, sycamore trees , elm trees , and oak trees.

Compound leaf consists of several leaflets joined to a single stem. Compound leaves are when there are a number of leaflets growing on one leaf stalk petiole. You can think of this as a number of small leaves that grow together to form a complete leaf. It can be tricky to know if the leaf you have in your hand is a simple leaf or compound leaf. If there is a node, then you have a simple leaf, whereas a lack of node indicates it is a compound leaf.

Examples of trees with compound leaves include ash trees, walnut trees , hickory trees , and horse chestnut trees. There are a number of types of compound leaves, and knowing about them can help make tree identification easier. Types of compound leaves. From left to right: pinnate leaves, palmate leaves and double pinnate leaves. Trees that have pinnate leaves mean that the leaflets on the compound leaf grow in each side along the length of the petiole like a feather arrangement.

Sometimes these types of leaves called pinnately compound leaves. Palmate leaves have a number of leaflets growing at the end of the leaf stalk. These compound leaves usually look like the shape of a hand with a palm and fingers. That is why they are called palmate leaves. Trees that grow palmate leaves include horse chestnut and buckeye trees.

Trees with bipinnate leaves have leaves that resemble fern leaves. You will notice in pictures of double pinnate leaves that the compound leaves are made up of a number of secondary stems that have leaflets growing in an opposite arrangement. Some examples of trees with bipinnate leaves are honey locust trees, the Texas redbud, and Kentucky Coffee trees. You can identify a tree by its leaf shape. From left to right: unlobed leaf, lobed leaf and toothed leaf.

One very important way to identify types of tree leaves is by the overall shape of the leaf around its edges. The edges of leaves create patterns that are often unique to the species of tree and help with identification. Later in the article, you will learn more about the specific shapes of entire leaves.

These types of leaves can also be called unlobed leaves. Crenate leaves are quite similar to undulate leaves, with the difference that these have an even edge pointing upwards, as do serrate margin leaves.

They have a scalloped margin. Pointing out these different types of leaves by understanding their leaf margins might make you look smart, but it can also help you to avoid certain problem plants like poison ivy or work out which plants you have in your garden which are weeds so that you can remove them.

Share on:. By Mary Smith. Updated: March 1, You may also be interested in: How to Prune an Olive Tree. There are several types of serrated leaf depending on the shape of the saw: Finely serrated : these are characterized by having a very fine serration and are often also called serrulated. Sometimes they are even hard to see with a naked eye. A leaf is a rather simple growth system. Nutrients are carried to the extremities growing edges by veins.

Is it unreasonable for growth to be most pronounced nearest to the veins? I suggest the topography of vein growth dictates leaf shape. Vein growth takes priority, leaf shape follows as it may. Some shapes may by chance suit certain niches, encouraging odd shapes. Veins first, shape second. Increased air turbulence decreases the boundary layer above the leaf. This allows the leaf to be more efficient at coupling its temperature with the air temperature. A useful attribute for either cooling the leaf down or making sure the leaf temperature doesn't drop below air temperature for example, at nighttime at high altitude.

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