MODIFICATIONS OF LEAVES:
1.Storage leaves: Some xerophytic, saline or members of family crassulaceae have swollen leaves they store mucilage , water and food material.Ex Bryophyllum,Agave.
2. Leaf tendrils: Tendrils are long wiry coiled climbing organs that help a plant to climb over a plant or a support . Tendrils are sensitive to touch and coil around with which they come into contact.Leaf tendrils are of following types:
| NAME OF THE LEAF TENDRIL | PART OF LEAF MODIFIED TO TENDRIL | EXAMPLE |
| WHOLE LEAF TENDRIL | ENTIRE LEAF MODIFIED TO TENDRIL | Lathyrus aphaca |
| LEAF TIP TENDRIL | LEAF APICES MODIFIED TO TENDRILS | Gloriosa superba |
| LEAFLET TENDRIL | UPPER FEW LEAVES OF PINNATELY COMPOUND LEAVES MODIFIED INTO TENDRIL | Lathyrus odoratus |
| PETIOLE TENDRILS | PETIOLE MODIFIED INTO TENDRIL | Nepenthes |
| RACHIS TENDRIL | TIPS OF RACHIS OR ENITIRE RACHIS MODIFIED TO TENDRIL | Clematis |
| STIPULAR TENDRILS | FREE END OF STIPULE MODIFIED INTO TENDRIL | Smilax |
3.Leaf spines: In some xerophytic plants to reduce the transpiration some the leaves or their parts modified into spines these also protect the plant from grazing animals.Leaf spine are of following types:
| PART OF LEAF MODIFIES INTO SPINE | EXAMPLE |
| LEAVES OF MAIN STEM | Barberry |
| LEAVES OF AXILLARY BUDS | Opuntia |
| LEAF APICES | Yucca |
| MARGIN OF LAMINA | Argemone |
| STIPULE | Zizypus |
4.Leaf hooks: Leaf get modified into hook like structure and help the plant to climb . Ex In Bignonia Three terminal leaflets gets modified into claw like hooks.
5.Phyllodes: In this type of modification the main leaf reduced and the petiole or rachis modified into green coloured leaf like structure to perform photosynthesis.Phyllodes are the modification of xerophytic leaves to reduce transpiration.Ex. Australian Acacia
6. Cataphylls: Dry & papery or fleshy leaves protective in function do not perform photosynthesis.
7.Floral leaves: Sepal , petals, carpels and stamens are modified leaves and perform different functions in reproduction .
Insect catching leaves: In insectivorous plants the parts of leaves gets modified into insect catching organs ,they catch insect digest them and absorb their nitrogen to fulfill the nitrogen requirement of plants. Based on the part of leaf modified into insect catching organ they are of following types:
| PARTS OF LEAF MODIFIED | EXAMPLE |
| PITCHERS: LEAF LAMINA MODIFIED INTO PITCHERR THAT CATCHES INSECTS. | Nepenthes & Sarracenia |
| BLADDER: LEAF LOBES MODIFIED INTO SENSITIVE LITTLE SAC LIKE TRAPS CALLED BLADDER. | Utricularia |
| SPOON SHAPED GLANDULAR HAIRS OR TENTACLES CATCHES INSECT WHEN IT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE LAMINA. | Drosera |