DENDROLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In some plants petiole becomes flat leaf like green and called phyllode. Phyllode synthesises food by photosynthesis and functions as a normal leaf. Eg. : Australian acacia, Parkinsonia. In some leguminous plants the leaf base may become swollen, which is called as pulvinus.

Detailed explanation-2: -Phyllodes are modified petioles or leaf stems, which are leaf-like in appearance and function. In some plants, these become flattened and widened, while the leaf itself becomes reduced or vanishes altogether. Thus the phyllode comes to serve the purpose of the leaf.

Detailed explanation-3: -Phyllode is a modification of petiole. It is a xerophytic adaptation. Phyllode is flat, green in color and carries out photosynthesis, and also reduces the rate of transpiration in xerophytic plants like Opuntia. Phyllodes do not bear any flower instead they bear an axillary bud.

Detailed explanation-4: -Occasionally authors have referred to these plants as having epiphyllous flowers (Fig. 7) (“on leaf”), but this is technically wrong, given that phylloclades are stems.