ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Although the mature size and form of leaves is very variable (27, 29, 135, 241, 259, 260), they all have a common origin from the margin of the shoot apex (213, 223). During the life cycle of a flowering plant several types of leaf are generally developed, but only foliage leaves (261-266) are considered in detail in this chapter. In plants showing proleptic growth (Chapter 4), scale leaves often invest and protect the immature foliage leaves within the vegetative buds (241, 268) while bracts are associated with flowers and inflorescences (267). The cotyledons are leaves which become demarcated early in embryogenesis (46) and in the mature seed often contain reserve food supplies for the seedling on germination (89, 104).
