This document discusses different types of leaf modifications in plants. It describes how leaves can be modified into tendrils for climbing plants, spines for defense, or phyllodes to reduce water loss. It also discusses insectivorous plants that have modified leaves to trap insects, such as pitcher plants and Venus flytraps. Examples are provided for each type of modification.

1. By Nazrin Parveen

2. Types of Leaf Modification
 Modification means a structural change due to
functional needs.
Introduction
1. Leaf Tendrils
2. Leaf Spines
3. Phyllodes

3. Leaf Tendril
 When a leaf is modified into a thin, thread-like
wiry coiled structure it is called as a leaf Tendril.
 E.g.. wild pea and Glory Lily.

4. Leaf Spine
 When a leaf is modified into pointed spines for
defensive purpose. It is called as a Leaf Spine.
 E.g. Berberis and Prickly Poppy.

5. Phyllodes
 When the petiole becomes flattened and green. It
reduces the process of evaporation from the plant
body. Such structures are called Phyllodes.
 E.g. Australian Acacia.

6. Insectivorous Plants
 Plants which trap and digest insects for their
protein requirement are called insectivorous
plants.
 Pitcher Plant- The leaf is modified into a pitcher
to trap insects.
 Bladderwort- The leaves are highly segmented
and modified into sacs called bladders.
 Venus Flytrap- When any insect is caught by the
leaf, the edges of the leaf interlock which
prevents the escape of the insect.

7. Insectivorous Plants
Pitcher Plant
Bladderwort Venus flytrap

8. References
 Mineral nutrition of higher plants, (second edition (1995)) .Horst Marschner.
Institute of Plant Nutrition. University of Honheim. Germany.
 Morphology of Angiosperms (1987) by John Merle Coulter, Ph.D. Head of
Department of Botany; Charles Joseph Chamberlain, Ph.D. Instructor in
Botany, The university of Chicago.
 Leaf modifications (biology discussion). Retrieved from
http://www.biologydiscussion.com/plants/modifications-of-leaves-explained-
with-diagram/6249