Flowers and fruit are the garden darlings, but where would they be without leaves? As a seed set roots, tiny leaves quickly follow, the building blocks of things to come. Leaves are:
“a plant’s principal organ of photosynthesis, the process by which sunlight is used to form foods from carbon dioxide and water. Leaves also help in the process of transpiration, or the loss of water vapor from a plant.”
The shape of a leaf, known as the leaf margin, helps to determine the type of plant. Leaf margins, or edges, include dentate, double dentate, crenate, ciliante, entire and lobate. I traveled the garden with my camera this week, so I could get up close and personal with the powerhouse leaf.
The Shape of Leaves to Come
I enjoyed studying the different leaves in my garden, viewed with a more observant eye. Each plant has leaves that are fully formed, but it was also fun to observe the shape of leaves to come. Some leaves stack in pairs, in alternating patterns, while others climb up the plants stem. My garden favorites:
Inky Leaf Coleus: Lobed
Dwarf Lemon: Entire Leaf
Scented Geranium Leaf: Dentate (or Serate)
Star Jasmin Leaf: Lobate
Clover Leaves: Entire
Resources:
- Online Encyclopedia
- Merriam-Webster Visual Online Dictionary
- EnchantedLearning.com. I love this site. When my boys were small, I subscribed to this site. They have great downloads for teachers and parents.
Gardening Nirvana 
I’ve never really given them (leaves) much thought, but you’re so right, they’re pretty important to the health of your plant and the first thing to wither when your plants not healthy. Kind of ‘The canary in the coal mine’. I really love Jasmin, we can’t grow it here but I spotted it on the porch of the cutest house in Coronado. It smelt so yummy I had to ask the home owner (working in her garden). Very pretty and I bet it smells great when she’s able to leave her door or windows open. Is yours also a vine? Are you growing Lemons in your yard? We go through them like crazy, wow that’d be so awesume.
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