Types of Leaves
Forest layers
Canopy
Tallest trees Tops of trees form a ceiling Treetops stop a lot of the light Protects the soil from erosion
Understory
Smaller trees with thin trunks Stop just below canopy Wait for a gap to grow into canopy
Shrub Layer
Small shrubs (woody stems but small) Grow between the smaller trees
Forest Floor
Dark Covered in a layer of leaves, twigs, and dead plants Decayed leaves provide nutrients to soil Alive with invertebrates and microorganisms
Alternate or Opposite Leaves
Simple Leaf
Compound leaf
Compound Leaf
Compound leaves
Leaf Margins (edges) Smooth
Serrated = with teeth