It’s All About Leaves This Month

Have you ever stopped to consider the wonder of leaves? In the spirit of the season, here are a few things you may not know. Leaves are solar panels…really efficient solar panels. Leaves come in unexpected forms. Did you know the spines on a cactus are really leaves? Did you know that the tendrils on a grape vine are really leaves? Did you know that all those little rose “leaves” on one little stalk are really part of one big leaf? Did you know that the celery stalks and onion bulbs you purchase are really leaves?

Leaves are extremely complex and not easy to describe. They come in so many different shapes and sizes, too. Botanists have a long list of separate descriptors for the overall shape of a leaf, the tip of the leaf, the edge of the leaf, the base of the leaf, etc.

See what I mean? There is no end to the wonder of green, but I must “leaf” off here.

Do you have any fun facts about leaves? Let me know.