Writing in Biology - Section 1

The object I am observing in this draft is a group of leaves detached from an unkown plant. This part of the plant has a stem and and three small leaflets that come off of a main joint near the center. The leaves are a dark green color on the top-side and a lighter green on the bottom. They are glossy and reflect light when angled properly. If light is shown on the back or front it shows a scaly pattern and is slghtly transluscent. The leaves are flexible and very light. The top leaflet in particular has some interesting discoloration to it. It has what appears to be a snake like mark on the right side which is much darker than the rest of the leaf. This particular leaflet opens up much like a fan and has identical rounded edges about half-way up the leaf. At the very point the leaflet has a point at which both sides meet. The leaflet on the right side is small, smaller than the leaflet on the right and the top. It also has a curved pattern edge starting about half-way up the leaflet, however it is not as symmetrical as the top leaflet. The curved pattern on the upper side of the leaf is smaller than its lower half. On the lower portion of the right leaflet there is a small lump on the track of a vein. The left leaflet is similar to the right, but larger. It has a similar ridge pattern and also has a lump near a vein. The leaf has an earthy smell and has a waxy texture. From the left to right leaflet is approximately 55 mm and from the top leaflet to the stem it's about 60 mm. The stem itself is much sturdier than the rest of the leaflets, has a red color on the top, and a lighter red on the bottom. The end of the stem is bulbous and contains no roots. 

I see a green leaf. This leaf divides in 3 smaller leaves in which some areas may be rotten or mal-nurished in the time they were still attached to the earth. It appears to be an unhealthy leaf. It has many veins, and smaller sized veins within the larger ones. It has a hole in the first leaf to the left. The edges are curvy, resembling a wave. I noticed that most leaves have smooth edges, unlike this one. When it comes to identifying its color, it has a vibrant green color, resembling the grass. On the back of the leaf, it has a transluscent light green. Within the rotten areas, there are squiggly brown lines that I am yet to find out their significance,and some parts ofthe curvy lines are darker than the others. I would assume that the rotten parts are some sort of insect leaving its markings, or a lack of nutrients in that leaf. Additionally, it smells extremely fresh, as if it had been picked off its original home not too long ago. It is rough like a sand paper, and not smooth like most fuzzy summer leaves. It is extremely thin, in which it feels as if you are holding a piece of paper. it is not very strong nor rigid and it can be ripped very easily. If you fit it in my palm, it lays perfectly, so I would assume I can compare it to the size of an average woman's palm. The dimensions are 70 x 80 mm. The length is 70 mm and the width is 80 mm. To enter my leaf in depth, and to analzye it so deeply that we can find it if it was mixed with the rest of the leaves, I can see that the very first leaf to the left (if the whole leaf was facing you) has a hole in it. The squiggly lines are found right at the tip of the leaf, in the third subdivision of the veins. The top middle leaf, facing up,has a squiggly line in the 6th subdivision of the veins. Finally, th 3rd leaf, facing right, has the biggest set of squiggly lines, one in the right half subdivision of veins facing up, and one in the second half facing down. I also know it is my leaf based on the way it was cut. The cut is on an angle, but the left side is the more potent angle.

There are three light green leaves attached to a thin red stem. They are all attached at the same spot on the stem. The leaf in the middle is symmetrical in it's shape, but the other two are not. This is due to the curved edges of the leaves. The two side leaves have four curves on the bottom half and only two curves on the top half whereas the middle leaf has four curves on both sides. This makes the entire leaflet symmetrical down the center. One characteristic that I find most fascinating is the dark dots and squiggly patterns on two of the leaves. I did not know the cause of this discoloration until our discussion afterwards, and I learned that these spots are caused by a species of parasitic moth. I also observed that the top side of each leaf is smoother than the bottom side, and they have a fragrant smell. After using a ruler to measure the size of the leaf, I determined that the leaflet is longer than it is wide. I did not write down the exact measurements of its size because I was unsure if the ruler was in centimeters or another scale of measurement.

Today I observed a leaf composed of three leaflets, similar to a clover. The middle leaf was larger than the two to the side. The leaflets had two different-colored sides; one side was a darker green color while the other was a pale green color. Looking at the pale side of the leaves it was easier to see some of the discolorations on the leaves and stems. The most obvious blemishes were dark marks made by leaf miners, which are little insects that use the leaf as a place to lay eggs and feed during the early part of their life. One of the dark blemishes was almost circular which can be seen on the right-hand leaf looking from the dark side, and had a small orange spot towards the bottom of the blemish. On the pale side of the leaves, small brown spots can be seen covering all three leaves, and there can be seen a silvery or reflective discoloration on the left half of the right-hand leaf. The leaves had a slight brownish tint on the edges, and each leaf had a number of indentations on the edges. The middle leaf had six indentations, and from the dark green side, the leaf to the right had 3 indentations while the leaf to the left had 5 indentations. The leaf measured about 7.5 cm from the tip of the stem to the tip of the middle leaf. From end to end of the side leaves it measured about 6 cm across. The stem was a dark reddish-brown color on the dark green side, while it was pale on the other side, the side which I assumed was not in direct sunlight. The leaves on the pale side also had a velvety texture, while the darker green leaves were more waxy, which are properties that I assume help with sunlight absorption and photosynthesis.

At first glance this small cutting of a plant appears unassuming and ordinary. With three leaves that diverge from the same point from a sturdy pink tinted stem. One of the leaves grows directly out of the end of the stick, whereas the other two leaves are perpendicular  to the stem. The pinkish tint extends down from the stem into the leaves, showing the movement of the "veins" in the leaves. The two perpendicular leaves appears slightly smaller at approximately 30 mm long and 20 mm wide at its thickest point. However the leaf that falls parallel to the stem is slightly longer, at approximately 40 mm long, and is less uniform. The parallel leaf has a more slanted shape, meaning that the "vein" that runs along the middle of the leaf swerves off to the side. This is unlike the two perpendicular leaves whose "veins" run straight from their origin to the end of the leaf. This adds to the overall character of the leaf, counteracting my first assumption that the clipping appeared unamusing. Little dark spots also add to the character of the clipping. These dark spots make up a small swiveling pattern that is found on one of the perpendicular leaves. The stem itself seems to have a unique texture. The tiny "hairs" on the stem result in a smooth and soft texture on the stem. The end of the stem where the clipping was cut from the tree seems rather blunt. Therefore, the clipping must have been torn off instead of cut off. The stem transitions from a yellowish-pink to a dark pink as it gets closer to where it was cut. The only other spot on the stem that is as pink as the end would be the point where all the leaves diverge from. These unique characteristics exhibited by the clipping seemed to have only revealed themselves under closer observation.

The leaf had a thin stem with three green leaves jetting out in different directions, along with a very evident sweet yet minty smell. The red stem had thin, hair-like projections all over and its color extended to a certain point after it divided into three parts. The edges of the leaves are straight at the bottom unlike the top. Each vein had a reddish tint like the stem, but it gradually turned yellow moving to the pointy top. On one side of the leaf, the surface had matte effect and was paler in color. On the other side, the leaf was a darker green and had a shiny surface. Placing the leaf on its pale end, certain size and shape differences were very clear. The left leaf was slightly smaller than the right leaf - later when measured, a 0.2cm difference was found. However, they were both very similar in shape - rounded. Conversely, the leaf in the center was much bigger (5.5cm) and was wider at the top than the bottom. Furthermore, the red tint started to disappear earlier in the smaller leaves in comparison to the bigger leaf. There were brown discolorations on the leaves. Surprisingly, the two side leaves had them in the same spot as each other (left of the main vein, towards the bottom). The center leaf had it in the top right corner.

In the analysis of the plant sample given, several observations can be made. Firstly, the sample appears to be a compound leaf structure. The compound leaf is composed of two horizontal leaves and one larger vertical leaf, all originating out of a single junction point on the stem. Upon initial observation of the stem itself, it appears to have a reddish hue that changes with intensity throughout the compound leaf structure. From the cut point on the stem, it is faintly red in color. Then, directly after the junction point of the three leaves, it sharply intensifies in this red hue, then quickly fades upon traveling into the leaf itself. Other observations of color can be made as well. In all three leaves, there are spots of brown discoloration, presumably dead cells, that are located more towards the edge of the leaf. In the left horizontal leaf on this particular sample, however, there is a larger pattern of dead cells more towards the center of the leaf. The brown discoloration appears to be a snake-like structure, possible the result of some kind of parasitic larva that uses the plant as a host during its early development. Additionally, there is a semi-waxy coating to the top of the leaf, giving the leaf a dark green appearance and presumably assisting in protection of the leaf and unwanted rapid water loss. Through this coating, the plant's vascular system is visible, with vein-like structures reaching across the leaf and back into the central stem. 
 

The object observed in class has a long stem that is rigid at one end, suggesting it has been harshly plucked instead of cut. The stem has a dark red tint with a thin brown line on one side, which could be dirt or possible decay. The stem is very red at the point where it splits into three green leaves, but as the stem splits, it fades into a light yellow color throughout the vascular system of the leaves. The two leaves on the sides are small, with scalloped edges and dark green coloring. The middle leaf is elongated, is a lighter green color, also has scalloped edges, and it leans slightly to the left. The middle leaf also has two brown squiggles from leaf miners that may have resided there. The plant overall is not planar, as the middle leaf protrudes farther forward than the lateral ones. All 3 of the leaves come to a dull point at the tip, and they are bumpy due to the veins that run through them. The front side of the plant is a slightly darker color and has a waxy coating, while the backside is a lighter green and is a little rougher in texture. The leaves are also scaley or cracked, similar to the skin on the back of a human hand if one looks closely.

The sprig I was given is about 73 mm in length from the end of the stem to the top of the longest leaf. There are three leaves on the sprig, one in the centre, and two on each side of the stem in the same location. The one in the centre is both wider and longer than the side leaves. The cutting seems relatively fresh, the leaves are still firm and not drooping. The cut or torn end of the stem is still green inside and produced a little moisture when pressed against the paper. The stem itself appears slightly hairy and is a brownish-red colour which persists into the main leaf vein, turning to a whitish-yellow about half way up each leaf. The upperside of the leaves appear glossy and deep green, resembling leather in appearence and texture. The undersides of the leaves are dark lime green and are noticably more matte than the topside of the leaves. 

The sprig has a noticable scent, likely coming from the leaves and not the stem, which is earthy and slightly spicy. The shine noticed on the top of the leaves could be an oil produced by the plant which also produces the scent. The top of the leaves are slightly oily to the touch supporting this idea. The leaves are oblong and obtuse shaped, with each leaf having 5-6 notches spread over the upper end of the leaf body. The leaf in the centre of the leaflet is noticably more symmetrical than the two side leaves. Based on the small size of the leaves and orientation, I think it is a leaflet from a smaller plant like a young tree or a bush. 

There are abnormaities presented on two of the three leaves. The centre leaf has a black/brown winding pattern on the left side,  which I had guessed was due to some boring insect  and turned out to be correct. It also has a protruding nodule close to the base of the leaf. The left leaf has these same abnormalities as well. The bore pattern on this leaf is far less large, but there are three nodules spread over the leaf body. The nodules are small, around the size of the head of a pin, their base is whitish green coming to a brownish-red point. The nodules protrude from both sides of the leaf but primarily from the topside. It looks like the nodules could be some type of other organism such as a fungus or the eggs of the insect that created the bore marks. However, the identical colouring of the stem and leaf to the nodules lead me to believe the plant produced them itself and they are not due to another organism. 

Green, three-leafed veiny, dark brown parts indicative of damage much like a bruise. Red stem and red primary veins. Scalloped edges with a symmetry on the central leaf ending in a point at the center. Smells remotely like dust, dirt, and musk. Evidently ripped from its mother stem judging by the rough uneven edge of its stem. Two smaller leaves on the left and right, the center one being quite larger. The top side is darker green and waxy, with rippling causing the material between the veins to curl upward at the edges. The underside is a softer, fuzzy texture and a more pastel shade of the same green. The damage has caused complete holes in the leaves allowing a window yo the other side. The stem has tiny little hairs making it fuzzy and giving it a slightly white edge. The largest leaf is symmetrical with four scallops on each half mirroring each other, but the two smaller leaves both have smaller scallops on the side closest to the largest central leaf. There is a tiny little hard red growth on the left leaf, and if the leaf were conscious I'm sure it would have had it lasered off. The underside of the hard red growth shows a slight bump also, also like the backing to an earring. The general leaf shape resembles a diamond but the center slightly moved upwards. It casts a soft shadow showing that it allows light through it. One brown spot of damage on the biggest leaf serpentines along a vein and fades at the end like a pencil being picked up after writing a "y". The veins are asymmetric and don't stem across from one another on each side of a single leaflette. The leftmost leaflette has a straight cut from the stemming point extending down to the left and ending at the second scallops from the edge. This cut goes through the leaf to the other side, it is 29 mm long. There are two less severe parallel cuts north on the leaflette of 9mm and 14mm. The little red-hard growth has a small brown squiggly mark around it that runs from the center of the leaflette vein to the edge., total displacement of 7mm. The center leaflette scallop distances are- from the outside to the center: 3mm, 9mm, 7mm, 6.7mm. The red coloration from the stem extends into the center leaflette vein by 26.5mm. The redness extends 17mm onto the right leaflette vein, but only 10mm onto the left leaflette vein. The left leaflet has discoloration of the leaf where two patches are distinctly more pale and yellowish than the rest of the leaf, reminding one of tie-dye shirts. The center leaflette on the first from the step scallop on the right has the same discoloration next to a slug-shaped brown mark of dry leaf. This mark affects the structure of the leaflette causing it to fold like a hard taco shell opening downwards. From the end of the stem to the point where the leaves grow is 22mm.