Sample Leaf Analysis 09/06 revised

The sample given by Professor Brewer in class was a compound leaf (was open from one point in different directions, like a palm). It appeared to be plucked from a plant having red stem. The end of the stem was large- bulb like and had white powder on it. The leaflets had yellow outline and was waxy and darker on the upper part as compared to the lower part of the leaf. The leaf had three leaflets, two of which were of the same size and teardrop shaped, and appeared to be identical whereas the bigger leaflet was kite shaped and different than the other two. Two small leaflets which were teardrop shaped had purplish spots on them. One of the leaflets also had purplish bumps which made the plant look malnourished or diseased. There can be a possibility that those bumps were another species living on the leaflets as symbiotic relationship.  The leaf was overall a little dried out. All three leaflets were pale green/yellowish green in color but one of them was darker than the other two. The midrib of the bigger leaflet also had black spots which were evident and very small in size. The purple spots on the leaflets also followed a curvy pattern which looked like ink was seeping through paper. Leaflets also seemed to have little hair coming out of them which I suppose was for moisture to stay on them. Red stem also became yellower as it extended through the leaves as the midrib. Veins of the leaflets followed a beautiful pattern and looked like alveoli of human lungs. Veins were lighter in color (mostly yellow) as compared to the color of the leaf. At last, odor of the leaf cannot be described but the leaf had a very distinguishable scent.