Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Leaf shapes/ABC Wednesday



L is for Leaf shapes

I love textures and patterns and when I see plants, I'm captivated not only by flowers but also with leaves.    Various shapes and textures of leaves are fascinating subjects in photography.  There are more than a dozen leaf shapes but let's concentrate on the L's, shall we?

The leaves in the top photo are called acicular because of the pointed tip.  It can also be described as a linear leaf because it is long and narrow. 

The sharp, lance-shaped leaves of this plant has been compared to a mother-in-law's tongue.  It is also called Tiger's Tail and Snake plant.

Another lanceolate-leafed plant is the Walking Iris, also known as the Apostle's plant.  The name Apostle's plant comes from the belief that the plant will not flower until it has at least 12 leaves, the number of Jesus' apostles.


Papaya leaf is called palmately lobed because the divisions that do not arrive at the center of the half blade.  Aside from its interesting shape, papaya leaves have wonderful medicinal properties.  Juice from the leaves is used as skin cleansing agent, it also heals open wounds and sore.  Fresh leaves are edible; when boiled in water, it is an effective cure for malaria, and can be made into tea to treat bladder and menstrual problems.


These leaflets have fragmented blade, also called compound leaves.


One of the most interesting leaves I have seen so far is that of the Kalanchoe daigremontiana, or Mother of Thousands.  It has oblong-lanceolate leaves with clusters of leaf-like along the edges.  The tiny leaves form roots while on the plant and they grow into young plants.


"Nature will bear the closest inspection.  She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf,  and take an insect view of its plain." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Linking to ABC Wednesday

15 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

luscious variety of leaves!
ROG, ABCW

photowannabe said...

Isn't it amazing to see such avast variety of leaf shapes?
I am fascinated by the textures and design of plants too.

Katrin said...

How beautiful! And I've never seen something like the shapes from the last picture. It's a perfect fractal ...

Anonymous said...

Great choice for L and beautiful fauna and nature photography ~ ^_^

Photo Cache said...

yes me too. the leaves catch my attention as much as the flowers. they are as interesting and attractive as the blooms.

Leslie: said...

I'm like that, too. I see all the varieties, whether the LUSCIOUS desert type or the LOVELY rainforest type!

Leslie
abcw team

Jama said...

My neighbour have that mother of thousand plant, and they always intrigue me.

LONDONLULU said...

I love the variety here and that last one is amazing! Leaves are so overlooked.

MaR said...

Fantastic collection of beautiful,beautiful leaves!!

L is for...

Gerald (SK14) said...

the top one is a bit like the jigsaw i'm struggling with at the moment

Minoru Saito said...

Hi! Very cool. Mother nature is truely wonderful.

Carver said...

Wonderful selection of different leaf shapes. The last one is amazing. Carver, ABC Wed. Team

A Colorful World said...

Wonderful post! We forget to enjoy the leaves when we are overwhelmed by the beauty of the flowers! But they are fascinating too.

Unknown said...

Interesting to know that the Mother-inlaw tongue has a third name to it.."Tiger Tail" never known that one before.

Love all of your leaves here, lots of great information.

Thank you for sharing this.

Found you fro the ABC Wednesday blog

Chubskulit Rose said...

Love the last variety of leaves!

Las Vegas
Catching up (again) for L entries, oh Lord, I am always LATE!
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team