The lifeblood of leaves: Vein networks control plant patterns

November 16, 2010

By hammersmith

[Source: UA News] – New University of Arizona research indicates that leaf vein patterns correlate with functions such as carbon intake and water use – knowledge that could help scientists better understand the complex carbon cycle that is at the heart of global climate warming.

“Leaves have very different networks of veins. They have different shapes, different sizes, different thicknesses,” said Benjamin Blonder, a doctoral student in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology. “The really interesting question is how a leaf with a certain form produces a certain function.”

For more information: The Lifeblood of Leaves: Vein Networks Control Plant Patterns