Summary
Areas of Science
Difficulty
Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Very Low (under $20)
Safety
No issues
Credits
*Note:
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Abstract
Leaves grow in a different pattern than stems and shoots. They do not elongate along one axis, but instead spread out over time. Do all regions of the leaf grow equally? You can use markings on different regions of a growing leaf to see if the whole surface grows, or if growth is focused in a particular region, like the veins or edges of the leaf. If you look along a leafy stem, you may notice that leaves at different positions along the stem are different sizes. You can do an experiment to find out the rate of growth of leaves along the stem. Using graph paper, trace leaves from different positions along the stem. After tracing each leaf, you can calculate the surface area of the leaf by counting up the squares of graph paper within the outline of the leaf. Are the biggest leaves at the base or the tip of the stem? Is there a position along the stem where leaves do not get larger anymore? How many different types and species of leafy stems can you test? (VanCleave, 1993, 69-74)Bibliography
VanCleave, J. 1993. Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Biology. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Cite This Page
General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.MLA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
"What is the Rate of Leaf Growth Along the Stem?" Science Buddies,
21 Oct. 2021,
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p024/plant-biology/leaf-growth-rate.
Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
APA Style
Science Buddies Staff.
(2021, October 21).
What is the Rate of Leaf Growth Along the Stem?
Retrieved from
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p024/plant-biology/leaf-growth-rate
Last edit date: 2021-10-21
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