Scale leaf

A scale leaf is a leaf with a reduced blade which is mainly formed by the amphigastrium. It can be dry, membranous or coriaceous, but also sometimes green.

Scale leaves on the bud of a pear tree

Scale leaves on the caulis of a Tussilago

Scale leaves protect with their bud scales the leaves and flowers inside the bud from drying out in winter. In some species the scale leaves are additionally covered with a sticky layer of wax.

Green scale leaves can be found for example on the caulis of Tussilago.^{[citation needed]} They can also be found on plants growing in drier habitats, for example Haloxylon ammodendron, the saxaul.^{[citation needed]}

Literature

• Eckehart J. Jäger: Rothmaler Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Gefäßpflanzen: Grundband. Spektrum, Heidelberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-8274-1606-3, p. 893.
• Peter Sitte, Hubert Ziegler, Friedrich Ehrendorfer, Andreas Bresinsky: Strasburger, Lehrbuch der Botanik. Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart, Jena, New York 1991, ISBN 3-437-20447-5, p. 214–215.