Leaf window, also known as epidermal window,[1] and fenestration,[2][3] is a specialized leaf structure consisting of a translucent area through which light can enter the interior surfaces of the leaf where photosynthesis can occur. The translucent structure may include epidermal tissue, and in some succulent plants it consists of several cell layers of parenchyma, which may also function as water-storage tissue.[4] It can appear as a large continuous patch, a variegated or reticulated region, or as numerous small spots. It is found in some succulent plants native to arid climates, allowing much of the plant to remain beneath the soil surface where it is protected from desiccation by winds and heat while optimizing light absorption. Many species featuring leaf windows are native to Southern Africa.
A flowering Fenestraria rhopalophylla, so named due to the translucent leaf window on the tips of its modified leaf.
The primary function of the translucent windows is to increase the absorption of radiant energy, and thereby the rate of photosynthesis.[5] Epidermal windows are commonly situated at the apex of leaves, allowing light to be captured and utilized even when the plant is almost entirely below the soil surface,[6] minimizing exposure of leaf surface area to desiccation by intense heat. The windows focus and channel diffused light to the green photosynthesizing surface hidden inside the underground part of the plant.[1] An absence of stomata in the translucent tissue prevents water loss. It has been found in the Lithops species of succulents that leaf window size correlates inversely with habitat solar irradiance; plants growing in regions of high irradiance and low rainfall have smaller windows than those growing in cloudy, high-rainfall regions.[7]
Plants with leaf windows are sometimes known as window plants, though this is also the common name used to refer to Fenestraria rhopalophylla.[citation needed]
^ abEgbert, K. J.; Martin, C. E.; Vogelmann, T. C. (2007-06-19). "The influence of epidermal windows on the light environment within the leaves of six succulents". Journal of Experimental Botany. 59 (7): 1863–1873. doi:10.1093/jxb/ern105. PMID 18436541.
^Hickey, M.; King, C. (2001), "The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms", Kew Bulletin, Cambridge University Press, 56 (2): 505, Bibcode:2001KewBu..56..505B, doi:10.2307/4110976, JSTOR 4110976
^Beentje, H.; Williamson, J. (2010), The Kew Plant Glossary: an Illustrated Dictionary of Plant Terms, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Kew Publishing
^ abChristensen-Dean, G.A.; Moore, R. (1993), "Development of Chlorenchyma and Window Tissues in Leaves of Peperomia columella", Annals of Botany, 71 (2): 141–146, doi:10.1006/anbo.1993.1018[dead link]
^Egbert, K. (March 2002). "The Influence of Leaf Windows on the Utilization and Absorption of Radiant Energy in Seven Desert Succulents". Photosynthetica. 40: 35–39. doi:10.1023/A:1020129820295. S2CID 23237859.
^Martin, C. E.; Brandmeyer, E. A.; Ross, R. D. (2013-01-01). "Ecophysiological function of leaf 'windows' in Lithops species - 'Living Stones' that grow underground". Plant Biology (Stuttgart). 15 (1): 243–247. Bibcode:2013PlBio..15..243M. doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00672.x. ISSN 1438-8677. PMID 23043320.
^"Predatory Plant: Lure of the Cobra Lily". KQED Science. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
^Opel, M.R. (2005), "Leaf Anatomy of Conophytum N. E. Br. (Aizoaceae)", Haseltonia, 11: 27–52, doi:10.2985/1070-0048(2005)11[27:LAOCNE]2.0.CO;2, S2CID 84314908
December 15, 2023
leaf, window, leaf, with, window, like, holes, perforate, leaf, also, known, epidermal, window, fenestration, specialized, leaf, structure, consisting, translucent, area, through, which, light, enter, interior, surfaces, leaf, where, photosynthesis, occur, tra. For a leaf with window like holes see Perforate leaf Leaf window also known as epidermal window 1 and fenestration 2 3 is a specialized leaf structure consisting of a translucent area through which light can enter the interior surfaces of the leaf where photosynthesis can occur The translucent structure may include epidermal tissue and in some succulent plants it consists of several cell layers of parenchyma which may also function as water storage tissue 4 It can appear as a large continuous patch a variegated or reticulated region or as numerous small spots It is found in some succulent plants native to arid climates allowing much of the plant to remain beneath the soil surface where it is protected from desiccation by winds and heat while optimizing light absorption Many species featuring leaf windows are native to Southern Africa A flowering Fenestraria rhopalophylla so named due to the translucent leaf window on the tips of its modified leaf Contents 1 Functions 2 Species 3 See also 4 ReferencesFunctions editThe primary function of the translucent windows is to increase the absorption of radiant energy and thereby the rate of photosynthesis 5 Epidermal windows are commonly situated at the apex of leaves allowing light to be captured and utilized even when the plant is almost entirely below the soil surface 6 minimizing exposure of leaf surface area to desiccation by intense heat The windows focus and channel diffused light to the green photosynthesizing surface hidden inside the underground part of the plant 1 An absence of stomata in the translucent tissue prevents water loss It has been found in the Lithops species of succulents that leaf window size correlates inversely with habitat solar irradiance plants growing in regions of high irradiance and low rainfall have smaller windows than those growing in cloudy high rainfall regions 7 The carnivorous cobra lily Darlingtonia californica uses fenestration to confuse insects and increase the effectiveness of its trap 8 Species edit nbsp The epidermal window of Lithops salicola has a mottled appearance which acts as camouflageGenera of plants with numerous species having translucent epidermal windows include citation needed Bulbine spp B haworthioides B mesembryanthemoides etc Conophytum spp 9 Callisia spp C navicularis etc Fenestraria spp Frithia spp Haworthia spp Haworthiopsis spp H koelmaniorum H tessellata etc Lithops spp Pleiospilos spp Questionable Peperomia spp notably P columella 4 and P nivalis Sarracenia spp Several other plant species have epidermal windows citation needed Cephalotus follicularis Darlingtonia californica Senecio rowleyanusPlants with leaf windows are sometimes known as window plants though this is also the common name used to refer to Fenestraria rhopalophylla citation needed See also editPerforate leaf leaves which have holesReferences edit a b Egbert K J Martin C E Vogelmann T C 2007 06 19 The influence of epidermal windows on the light environment within the leaves of six succulents Journal of Experimental Botany 59 7 1863 1873 doi 10 1093 jxb ern105 PMID 18436541 Hickey M King C 2001 The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms Kew Bulletin Cambridge University Press 56 2 505 Bibcode 2001KewBu 56 505B doi 10 2307 4110976 JSTOR 4110976 Beentje H Williamson J 2010 The Kew Plant Glossary an Illustrated Dictionary of Plant Terms Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Kew Publishing a b Christensen Dean G A Moore R 1993 Development of Chlorenchyma and Window Tissues in Leaves of Peperomia columella Annals of Botany 71 2 141 146 doi 10 1006 anbo 1993 1018 dead link Egbert K March 2002 The Influence of Leaf Windows on the Utilization and Absorption of Radiant Energy in Seven Desert Succulents Photosynthetica 40 35 39 doi 10 1023 A 1020129820295 S2CID 23237859 Windowed www cactus art biz Retrieved 2016 06 10 Martin C E Brandmeyer E A Ross R D 2013 01 01 Ecophysiological function of leaf windows in Lithops species Living Stones that grow underground Plant Biology Stuttgart 15 1 243 247 Bibcode 2013PlBio 15 243M doi 10 1111 j 1438 8677 2012 00672 x ISSN 1438 8677 PMID 23043320 Predatory Plant Lure of the Cobra Lily KQED Science 2014 03 03 Retrieved 2016 06 10 Opel M R 2005 Leaf Anatomy of Conophytum N E Br Aizoaceae Haseltonia 11 27 52 doi 10 2985 1070 0048 2005 11 27 LAOCNE 2 0 CO 2 S2CID 84314908 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leaf window amp oldid 1188863520, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
