Most plants have leaves that
are specially adapted to allow
food production to take place.
All leaves have a long strip of
vascular tissue called veins.
These veins supply the leaf
with minerals and water, then
they move the food to other
parts of the plant. But not all
plants have leaves that are flat.

Did you know that a cactus's
needles are really leaves! A
cactus's spines are
adaptations that protect the
plant. These spines protect
the plant by helping them not
get eaten by other animals.

Some leaves like grasses
have long veins, but most
have one central vein called
a midrib. The midrib is the
big long line with smaller
lines coming out of it.

There are two kinds of
leaves. One kind of leaf is
called a broad leaf. A
broadleaf is a flat smooth leaf
like a maple leaf. Another
kind of leaf is called a needle.
A needle is a leaf that is
scalelike. A needle leaf is
very pointy.

We eat leaves everyday such
as lettuce, cabbage, and
others. Also leaves are
healthy for our bodies.

Needle Leaves

Broadleaves

Cactus

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