dorsiventral leaf

dorsiventral leaf

the leaf type, found mainly in DICOTYLEDONS, with a structure that changes from dorsal (upper) surface to ventral (lower) surface. The major areas are: an upper EPIDERMIS with no stomata; a palisade MESOPHYLL layer below which is spongy mesophyll with large intercellular spaces; a lower epidermis with irregularly spaced STOMATA. Such leaves are generally held horizontally.