Question

In Nelumbium, Victoria, Trapoeolum the leaf blade is
A. Peltate
B. Centric
C. Unifacial
D. Ligulate

Answer 1

Leaves are a part of plants. They are thin, flat organs responsible for photosynthesis. It originates laterally at the node. It comprises an important part of the shoot system and it originates from shoot apical meristems. Life on the earth is dependent directly or indirectly on plants. The leaf is considered the most important part of a plant and also of the ecosystem.

Complete answer:
There are three parts of a leaf-
• Leaf base- The part by which the leaf attaches to a stem.
• Petiole- It connects the base of the leaf to the stem.
• Lamina- It is termed as leaf blade and it is the flat, green surface of the leaf. It contains venation and the middle one is called midrib.

Leaves represent different morphology and structures. They can be simple or compound.
The edges of the leaves also represent different shapes. These can be as follow-
Peltate- It refers to a round shape leaf in which the petiole is attached to the center. Eg- Nelumbium (Indian Lotus), Victoria (Water lily), Tropaeolum(Nasturtium).

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Additional information:
• Centric- These represent needle-like leaves. They are found in extreme ecosystems and are cylindrical in shape. The adaptation is seen in order to retain the loss of water. Eg- Cactus.

• Unifacial- A leaf that develops only from one side of the primordium of the leaf and in consequence has only an encircling adaxial (thick cuticle on the upper surface) or abaxial (thick cuticle on lower surface) epidermis.

• Ligulate- One such example is Selaginella and they bear small scales on the adaxial surface called ligules. Hence, these leaves are called ligulate leaves.

Note: The leaves comprise the photosynthetic part of a plant and it is further divided into different parts. Leaf-blade comprises one such example. The morphology and structures of the various leaves differ according to different plants and hence plants possess different structures of leaf blades.