Leaf Observations

On initial observations of the leaf, there is a single red/pink stem that further branches out into 3 different leaves. The stem is fuzzy and feels softer, while once the leaves begin to grow out that fuzz is replaced with a waxy coating on the top of the leaf, and the softness of the stem is replaced with slicker, more slippery feeling. The leaves are almost exactly symmetrical in shape and size, with the center leaf being larger in both aspects. They all exhibit a broader shape at the head of the leaf, and all narrow down once they get closer to the stem. The leaves are a dark, shiny green on top and have yellow veins running through them in a very uniform fashion. Every vein has smaller tributary veins breaking off of them, and even smaller ones breaking off of those as well, which seems to go on indefinitely. While the leaves display a rich, dark green color, the middle leaf has a distinctly large brown spot, which is a sign of decay and death. There is also a small “wiggling” pattern coming off of the spot. This is due to a small moth larvae hatching in between the leaf layers and eating its way out of the leaf. Very small dark spots were noticed on every leaf as well, sort of like freckles. While the top of the leaf is shiny and vivid, the underside is more pale and dull and looks its unfinished compared to the top side. The leaves also have some lighter patches of green mixed throughout, and can slightly let light through itself. 

    As far as more analytical descriptions on the leaf, there were 4 or 5 small dark spots on the left leaf, while 4 were observed on the middle leaf and 3 were seen on the right leaf. The leaf in its entirety measured in at 7.0 cm in length, and 6.0 cm in width. The left leaf alone measured in at 3.3 cm in length and 2.3 cm in width. The right leaf came in almost exactly the same as the left one, with a 3.1 cm length and a 2.4 cm width. The middle leaf was larger, and came in at 4.6 cm in length and 3.3 cm in width. All these measurements relayed that not only were the leaves in a symmetrical shape and size pattern, but also that the length measurements were always approximately 1 cm more than the width measurements.