49 Practice Identifying Leaves Activity
Now, let’s practice identifying leaves. Using live samples, identify the type of leaf by looking at the following features:
- Leaf type
- Leaf arrangement
- Leaflet arrangement (compound only)
- Leaf shape, tip, and base
- Petioles and stipules
Extra defining features: colour, scent, glands, hairiness, sap, thickness or texture
Why do leaves of the same plant species sometimes look different?
Leaves of different plants vary in shape, length, width, venation, colour and arrangement. These all help us to recognise different plants. However, sometimes leaves on the same plant or species can look quite different.
Different light conditions may alter size, shape and colour if top leaves have more light than lower leaves.
Some plants have distinctive leaf shapes or arrangements that change as a plant matures. For example, in the genus Eucalyptus, juvenile leaves are often a different shape and sometimes colour compared to mature leaves.