MadSci Network: Botany |
The terminology for the surfaces of a dorsiventral leaf is most simply, the upper side or the lower side. Another common leaf terminology is adaxial (upper surface) and abaxial (lower or bottom surface) but that can be confusing to students. The ventral surface of the leaf is the lower surface. The dorsal leaf surface is the upper surface. Upper, dorsal and adaxial are equivalent. Lower, ventral and abaxial are equivalent. References Nelson, J.M, Lane B., and Freeling, M. 2002. Expression of a mutant maize gene in the ventral leaf epidermis is sufficient to signal a switch of the leaf's dorsoventral axis. Development. 129(19):4581-9. Driscoll, S.P., A. Prins, E. Olmos, K. J. Kunert and C. H. Foyer. 2006. Specification of adaxial and abaxial stomata, epidermal structure and photosynthesis to CO2 enrichment in maize leaves. Journal of Experimental Botany 57: 381-390. Leaves
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