Anatomy of leaf
• Anatomy of Monocot leaf:
• Monocot leaves are isobilateral and equally illuminated on the both the surface.
Vertical section of monocot leaf consists of epidermis, mesophyll tissue and
vascular bundle
• Epidermis: Epidermis is present on both the upper(adaxial) and lower(abaxial)
surface of the leaf. It is made up of single layer of parenchymatous cells without
intercellular spaces. The outer wall of the cells are covered with the protective
cuticle. Stomata are present on both upper and lower epidermal layers. So the
monocot leaf is called amphistomatic leaf. Dumbell shaped guard cell surrounds
the stomata.
• Some of the parenchymatous cells on the upper epidermis are large and thin-
walled called bulliform cells. They help in rolling and unrolling of leaves due to
change in turgidity. Curled leaves reduce the surface area which helps to reduce
water loss due to evaporation
,
, • Mesophyll tissue: An entire mass of ground tissue is called mesophyll. In
monocot leaf, mesophyll cells are not differentiated into palisade and
spongy parenchyma. Mesophyll have chlorenchymatous tissue with
intercellular spaces. This is the major site of photosynthesis.
• Vascular bundle:
• The vascular tissue system includes a large number of small and closely
placed vascular bundles in mesophylls. Each vascular bundle consists of
xylem and phloem and is surrounded by a sheath of cells made up of
parenchyma called bundle sheath. The vascular bundle is conjoint,
collateral and closed where the xylem lies towards the upper epidermis
and phloem towards the lower epidermis. Sclerenchymatous patches are
present on both the edges of large vascular bundle.
• Anatomy of Monocot leaf:
• Monocot leaves are isobilateral and equally illuminated on the both the surface.
Vertical section of monocot leaf consists of epidermis, mesophyll tissue and
vascular bundle
• Epidermis: Epidermis is present on both the upper(adaxial) and lower(abaxial)
surface of the leaf. It is made up of single layer of parenchymatous cells without
intercellular spaces. The outer wall of the cells are covered with the protective
cuticle. Stomata are present on both upper and lower epidermal layers. So the
monocot leaf is called amphistomatic leaf. Dumbell shaped guard cell surrounds
the stomata.
• Some of the parenchymatous cells on the upper epidermis are large and thin-
walled called bulliform cells. They help in rolling and unrolling of leaves due to
change in turgidity. Curled leaves reduce the surface area which helps to reduce
water loss due to evaporation
,
, • Mesophyll tissue: An entire mass of ground tissue is called mesophyll. In
monocot leaf, mesophyll cells are not differentiated into palisade and
spongy parenchyma. Mesophyll have chlorenchymatous tissue with
intercellular spaces. This is the major site of photosynthesis.
• Vascular bundle:
• The vascular tissue system includes a large number of small and closely
placed vascular bundles in mesophylls. Each vascular bundle consists of
xylem and phloem and is surrounded by a sheath of cells made up of
parenchyma called bundle sheath. The vascular bundle is conjoint,
collateral and closed where the xylem lies towards the upper epidermis
and phloem towards the lower epidermis. Sclerenchymatous patches are
present on both the edges of large vascular bundle.
