Introduction
Morphology and modifications study the size, shape and structure of animals, plants, microbes and the interactions between their constituent elements. The phrase refers to the general characteristics of a plant’s or animal’s biological structure and arrangement of parts. Morphology and modifications refer to the overall features of a plant’s or animal’s physical structure and performance of components. Plants are important for the survival of human beings. Each plant has its own morphology and modifications, which we will discuss below.
Leaf is a flat structure of vascular plants linked to stems directly or via a stalk, usually green and blade-like. Photosynthesis and transpiration are carried out primarily by leaves.
Types of Leaves
There is a large variety of leaves. Simple leaves and compound leaves are the two main types of leaves. The stalk of a simple leaf contains a single blade and is linked to the plant body. A complex leaf is a leaf stem with many leaf blades, referred to as leaflets. A single leaf is formed by many leaflets linked to a solitary stalk. When the stem of a compound leaf is cut, it leaves a scar on the plant body, similar to the simple leaf. The pattern of arrangement of leaves is referred to as phyllotaxis.
Morphology of Leaves
The leaf is a simple structure attached to the plant or tree’s stem or branches. Leaves range in scale based on the habitat they grow in, the type they pertain to, and whether or not they have been modified. Parts of the leaves include:
A leaf comprises a large extended blade (the lamina) and a stalk-like petiole that attaches it to the plant stem. Stipules are a pair of structures found on each side of the leaf base in angiosperms that resemble scales, spines, glands, or leaf-like features and are located on both sides of the leaf base.
The size, shape and other properties of leaves, such as the form of the blade margins and the kind of venations, vary widely. The leaf is called simple when only one blade is put straight on the petiole. There is a wide variety of base and tip shapes. It’s also possible to reduce a leaf to a stem or scale.
Veins shoot across the lamina from the petiole, supporting it and transporting nutrients to and from the leaf tissues.
Plants with distinct forms of venation have different characteristics: dicotyledons have netlike vascular bundles and generally free vein endings, while monocotyledons have parallel venation and seldom free vein endings.
Function of Leaves
They help in formation and storing of food, defense against predators or weather conditions, Leaves on temperate trees are just protective bud scales; when shoot growth resumes in the spring, they often show the complete development from buds scales to fully formed leaves.
Stem
Morphology of Stem
The stem comprises of nodes and internodes, which might be long or short.
Modification of Stems
The stems of various plants have been changed to serve as food storage, support, protection and vegetative propagation. The branch of several plants has been adapted to perform additional roles, such as:
Underground stem modification—In this type of modification, the stems stay underground and store a significant amount of food.
sub-aerial modification-Stems lie horizontally on the ground and grow adventitious roots that aid in vegetative propagation.
Aerial stem modification- Axillary buds are transformed to thorne and tendril for support and protection in this modification.
Root
Morphology of Roots
Only the ends of roots grow in length. A root cap covers the growing point of the root and protects it as it travels through the soil. The apical meristem, a region of actively dividing cells, is located behind the root cap.
Growth in length takes place in the area of elongation. The region of maturation, located above the elongation zone, is where the root’s principal tissues develop, finishing the processes such as cell differentiation that began in the top section of the meristems region.
Modifications of Roots
Change of the roots includes the following:
- Food storage: Turnip and carrot taproots are two examples of roots that have been adapted for food storage
- Support: Hanging roots emerge from the branches of banyan trees to provide support. The overhanging roots go into the soil to give the massive banyan tree more support
- Respiratory: Many roots emerge up above the earth in marshy plants, indicating that they are breathing. The fundamental purpose of hollow roots is the energy transfer within the roots
Conclusion
Plant recognition and identification require an understanding of morphology. Morphology provides several critical criteria for classifying plants. It includes information on a species’ variety of variations. Morphology is needed to investigate numerous elements of plant life, such as genetics, ecology, and anatomy. Modifications are alterations or differences in the DNA of organisms of the same species caused by environmental variations. Although most changes are not heritable, epigenetic changes can be passed down in specific situations.