Question

What is the leaf arrangement, shape, margin, venation, base, and apex of Plumeria rubra?
Is it simple or compound leaf? If compound, please specify.
Same for Pachira aquatica, Mongifera indica, Syzygium aqueum, Origanum vulgare, Bougainvillea glabra, and Rhoeo spathacea.
What is the specific name of fern?
I hope you can help me. We will pass this on Wednesday :)

Answer 1

Answer:

Botanists and foresters have developed terms for the patterns and shapes used in tree identification. Some tree species make things more interesting by displaying more than one type of leaf structure. Other species leaves make it nearly impossible to misidentify them because each leaf is unique. Trees with unique leaves include ginkgo, sassafras, yellow poplar, and mulberry.

All tree leaves have an outer layer called the epidermis which can be used in the identification process. This leaf "skin" always has a waxy cover called the cuticle and varies in thickness. The epidermis may or may not support leaf hairs, which can also be an important botanical identifier.

Explanation:

leaf shape and the arrangement of leaves on a stem is the most common way of identifying a tree in the field during the growing season. The novice taxonomist usually starts with a tree leaf shape, which is determined by the presence or absence of lobes. One can often name the tree species without using any other identification marker.

One thing to remember is that a tree's leaves can also vary in shape according to their position on the tree, their age after budding, and the presence or absence of insect/disease damage. These variations are usually easy to deal with by finding a healthy specimen in its natural environment.

Leaf shape can vary considerably. The most common shapes include oval, truncate, elliptical, lancolate, and linear. Leaf tips and bases may also be unique, with names based on their shapes.

Leaf arrangement is mainly limited to two basic petiole attachments: simple and compound. Compound leaves are further described as pinnately, palmately, and doubly compound.