Notes on Phyllotaxy

Phyllotaxy is the term used to describe the manner in which leaves are arranged on a stem. It is extremely crucial to the plants because leaves are positioned in a certain way so that the maximum amount of sunlight reaches the leaves with the least amount of overlap. This can be alternated, opposited, or slightly curved in any combination. As in the case of the China rose, only one leaf is produced on each node in alternate phyllotaxy. Calotropis is an example of opposite phyllotaxy, in which two leaves emerge from a single node. As in Nerium, almost over two leaves emerge from each node in whorled phyllotaxy.

Because it initiates organ primordia on its edges in a sensible way, the stem apical meristem is extremely important in the construction of this pattern, and yet it plays an important part in its formation. The situation of the primordium at the meristem is controlled by local phytohormones gradients, and little is known regarding the events that occur after that, giving rise to phyllotaxy together across the fully grown stem.

Phyllotaxy

Early organs like leaves are organised mostly along the stem according to a predictable pattern known as phyllotaxy, which means phyllotaxy means “flowering pattern.” As phyllotaxis (originating from the ancient Greek terms phyllon means “leaf” and also the term táxis means “arrangement”) describes the consistent separation of lateral organs across stems and branches, the architecture of plants is distinguished. There are several different types of phyllotaxis. A good example of this is whorled phyllotaxy, in which two or even more organs are located at the same node. Organs are grouped in several clockwise or anticlockwise direction spirals in phyllotactic patterns, which are more sophisticated organisational patterns. There is a difference amongst species when it comes to the kind of phyllotaxis they have. Many dicotyledonous species begin with embryonic leaves which are exact reverse to one another and progress to generate leaves and stems in circular patterns and ultimately flower organs grouped in concentric whorls; however, this is not always the case.Alternative forms like whorled and opposite phyllotaxy have also been reported in plants, as well as the least frequent of these is spiral phyllotaxy, in which the organs form a regular generating spiral running up the stem. In the beginning of the stem, a collection of indeterminate, proliferating cells known as the shoot apical meristem (SAM) initiates the formation of lateral organs in a predictable pattern, which results in the establishment of the phyllotaxy. Auxin distribution is thought to be a key factor in primordium initiation and expansion, according to recent findings.

Phyllotaxy types

In botany, phyllotaxy refers to the pattern of leaf arrangement on a stem or branch. Alternate, opposite, and whorled are the most common varieties of this.

• A single leaf emerges at every node in an alternating fashion, as in the case of the china rose, mustard, and sunflower plants, which all have alternate types of phyllotaxy. 

• When a couple of leaves emerge from each node, they are placed opposite to one another, as in the case of Calotropis as well as guava plants.

• It has been called whorled when further than two leaves emerge from a single node as well as form a whorl, such as in Alstonia.

Phyllotaxy examples

• A single leaf emerges from the junction of a stem in the case of alternate phyllotaxy. The sunflower, mustard, and peepal are examples of plants that exhibit one such type of phyllotaxy. Guava as well as jamun plants contain this compound. There are 3 or maybe more leaves emerging from the root node in plants with whorled phyllotaxy. It can be discovered in the country of Alstonia.

• Since two or so more leaves produce at each node, this is referred to as the whorl type phyllotaxy. Hydrilla verticillata, Nerium, and other such plants are examples of this type of plant.

• Weeds, aromatic plants, and some popular fruit-bearing trees are examples of vegetation that exhibit opposing phyllotaxy. In the plant kingdom, only three plants exhibit opposite phyllotaxy. These are the China Rose (Ocimum), Sunflower (Sunflower), Mustard (Mustard), Alstonia, Guava (Calotropis), and Nerium (Nerium).

Conclusion

Among angiosperms, nodes can act as spring-like joints. Distichous phyllotaxy leads in stems which are more resistant to up-and-down twisting than they are to lateral rear motion in plagiotropic shoots. As a result, they will be able to efficiently soak up loading from fruits, animals, wind, rain, or snow, as well as resist pressures caused by gravity, neither cracking nor breaking. Nodes may be able to increase damping in windy circumstances by collecting vibrational energy and so minimising oscillation harm. The influence of plant nodes already has ramifications for biomimetic design for builders as well as materials scientists.Because it initiates organ primordia on its edges in a sensible way, the stem apical meristem is extremely important in the construction of this pattern, and yet it plays an important part in its formation.