Why would this be? It has to do with how plants transpire a process similar to evaporation; think of it as plant sweat. Among other things, transpiration is a vital part of photosynthesis. Little pores on the leaves called stomata allow carbon dioxide gas to enter the plant while water vapor exits. So, if leaf margins correlate strongly with temperature, then by looking at a collection of fossil leaves and comparing the number of smooth margins to jagged margins, you can actually determine an average annual temperature.
Leaf margin analysis involves comparing leaf shape to annual mean temperature. Using this method, paleontologists can look at leaf fossils and figure out what the average temperature was in that area. Seyfullah, L. Fossil focus: Using plant fossils to understand past climates and environments. Palaeontology online , 2 7 : Royer, D. Share Twitter Pinterest Email. Planet Earth Outdoors Weather Conservation. Why Have Serrated Leaves? A Beginner's Guide to Tree Identification.
Identification of the Most Common Hardwoods. Identify a Tree With Leaf Silhouettes. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
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Tags: biology , palaeontology. Email the editor. Use this form to email 'What's the point of pointy leaves?
By clicking 'Send to a friend' you agree ABC Online is not responsible for the content contained in your email message. Skip to navigation Skip to content. This site is being redeveloped. The term entire refers leaves without any toothing or division Lobed: show all Leaves with distinct protrusions, either rounded or pointed.
Pinnately lobed leaves have the lobes arranged on either side of a central axis like a feather. Palmately lobed leaves have the lobes spreading radially from a point, like fingers on a hand. Dissected: show all Leaves that are deeply or repeatedly cut into many partitions, but not into individual leaflets. Fern leaves are a classic example. The last example shown here would probably be considered compound as well as dissected, as some of the divisions go all the way to the center of the leaf.
Compound: show all Leaves divided into individual leaflets. Leaflets are distinguished from leaves in that there is no bud at the base. Leaves may be palmately or pinnately compound.
Some are doubly or even triply pinnate. Terms describing the margin of the leaf Entire: show all Margins without teeth or serrations. The term entire refers to leaves that are neither toothed, lobed, or compound, i.
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