Fan Leafs. Blockers of Light Or Energy Producers???

Slab said:

this is not the defoliation thread, the title states blockers of light or energy producers.

Click to expand...

Slab said:

Going to to spray fish emulsion for explosive growth, fuck green I want more green

Click to expand...

Uncle Ben said:

I've got the perfect solution - http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03076266000P

Click to expand...

elkukupanda said:

I have a question... why not remove fan leaves before they even develop? you guys know the anatomy and shape you are looking for... why wait until it has collected and used valuable energy.. even tho i still think... leaf and roots together.. more is merrier.. just my question for leaf molesters

Click to expand...

Uncle Ben said:

I've got the perfect solution - http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03076266000P

Click to expand...

Slab said:

i should have quoted budbrewer, he mentioned his frustratioin with the discussion of what a leafes function truly was.

Click to expand...

Uncle Ben said:

I've got the perfect solution - http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03076266000P

Click to expand...

Bud Brewer said:

-snip-
I don't appreciate people coming into this defoliation thread and clogging it up with solar panel logic or just plan insults for pages on end without any real experience on this topic. -snip-

Click to expand...

Slab said:

i should have quoted budbrewer, he mentioned his frustratioin with the discussion of what a leafes function truly was.

Click to expand...

Slab said:

this is not the defoliation thread, the title states blockers of light or energy producers.

Click to expand...

elkukupanda said:

What? receive.. store... process and supply?

Click to expand...

Slab said:

the whole leafs drive bud production cult living in the past afraid to try new things crowd

Click to expand...

Figong said:

"Solar panel logic" as you choose to call it, is quite accurate though.. as for penetration: beam angles, any secondary optics, spectrum are all factors. Photons + right spectrum = penetration, beam angle and secondary optics would just help adjust the coverage.

Click to expand...

Slab said:

the whole leafs drive bud production cult living in the past afraid to try new things crowd

Click to expand...

Uncle Ben said:

Slab, that is total bullshit. You can have your cult thing. I work, live, and grow amongst a normal horticultural community. We don't do voodoo practices which includes defoliation..... nor do we use rocket fuels.

Recommend you pass this crap logic past your local horticultural extension agent or one of their seminars they host on gardening from time to time.. You'll be laughed right out of the room as some kind of quack.

Uncle Ben

Click to expand...

Uncle Ben said:

It's quite obvious not many understand what a leaf's function is.

And so goes RIU....it's just how its membership rolls.

UB

Click to expand...

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=+2]BOTANY: PLANT PARTS AND FUNCTIONS [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1][continued][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1]Previous[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]MG Manual Reference [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]Ch. 1, pp. 9 - 14[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1][Plant Parts and Functions: stems | leaves | buds | roots | flowers | fruit | seeds][/SIZE][/FONT] [h=3]LEAVES [/h] The blade of a leaf is the expanded, thin structure on either side of the midrib. The blade is usually the largest and most conspicuous part of a leaf. The petiole is the stalk which supports the leaf blade. It varies in length and may be lacking entirely in some cases where the leaf blade is described as sessile or stalkless.​ The principal function of leaves is to absorb sunlight for the manufacturing of plant sugars in a process called photosynthesis. Leaves develop as a flattened surface in order to present a large area for efficient absorption of light energy. The leaf is supported away from the stem by a stem-like appendage called a petiole. The base of the petiole is attached to the stem at the node. The small angle formed between the petiole and the stem is called the leaf axil. An active or dormant bud or cluster of buds is usually located in the axil.​ The leaf blade is composed of several layers. On the top and bottom is a layer of thickened, tough cells called the epidermis. The primary function of the epidermis is protection of leaf tissue. The way in which the cells in the epidermis are arranged determines the texture of the leaf surface. Some leaves have hairs that are an extension of certain cells of the epidermis. The African violet has so many hairs that the leaf feels like velvet.​ Part of the epidermis is the cuticle, which is composed of a waxy substance called cutin that protects the leaf from dehydration and prevents penetration of some diseases. The amount of cutin is a direct response to sunlight, increasing with increasing light intensity. For this reason, plants grown in the shade should be moved into full sunlight gradually, over a period of a few weeks, to allow the cutin layer to increase and to protect the leaves from the shock of rapid water loss or sun scald. The waxy cutin also repels water and can shed pesticides if spreader-sticker agents or soaps are not used. This is the reason many pesticide manufacturers include some sort of spray additive to adhere to or penetrate the cuticle.​ Some epidermal cells are capable of opening and closing. These cells guard the interior of the leaf and regulate the passage of water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide through the leaf. These regulatory cells are called guard cells. They protect openings in the leaf surface called stoma. The opening and closing of the cells are determined by the weather. Conditions that would cause large water losses from plants (high temperature, low humidity) stimulate guard cells to close. Mild weather conditions leave guard cells in an open condition. Guard cells will close in the absence of light. A large percentage of stomata occur in the lower epidermis.​ The middle layer of the leaf is the mesophyll and is located between the upper and lower epidermis. This is the layer in which photosynthesis occurs. The mesophyll is divided into a dense upper layer, called the palisade layer, and a spongy lower layer that contains a great deal of air space, called the spongy mesophyll. The cells in these two layers contain chloroplasts which are the actual sites of the photosynthetic process.​ Types of Leaves A number of rather distinct types of leaves occur on plants. Leaves commonly referred to as foliage are the most common and conspicuous, and as previously stated, serve as the manufacturing centers where the photosynthetic activity of the plant occurs. Scale leaves or cataphylls are found on rhizomes and are also the small, leathery, protective leaves which enclose and protect buds. Seed leaves, or cotyledons, are modified leaves which are found on the embryonic plant and commonly serve as storage organs. Spines and tendrils, as found on barberry and pea, are specialized modified leaves which protect the plant or assist in supporting the stems. Storage leaves, as are found in bulbous plants and succulents, serve as food storage organs. Other specialized leaves include bracts, which are often brightly colored. The showy structures on dogwoods and poinsettias are bracts, not petals. ​ Conifers, (pines, firs, spruce, laurel, etc.) have "needles" as leaves. They normally have waxy cuticles with sunken stomata to help deter desiccation. Also, most have resin canals on either side of the vascular system. The resin is thought to help deter and guard against insect damage. ​ Venation of Leaves The vascular bundles from the stem extend through the petiole and spread out into the blade. The term venation refers to the patterns in which the veins are distributed in the blade. Two principal types of venation are parallel-veined and net-veined. ​ Parallel-veined leaves are those in which there are numerous veins which run essentially parallel to each other and are connected laterally by minute, straight veinlets. Possibly the most common type of parallel-veining is that found in plants of the grass family where the veins run from the base to the apex of the leaf. Another type of parallel-venation is found in plants such as banana, calla, and pickerelweed, where the parallel veins run laterally from the midrib. Parallel-veined leaves occur on plants which are part of the monocotyledon group.​ Net-veined leaves, also called reticulate-veined, have veins which branch from the main midrib(s) and then subdivide into finer veinlets which then unite in a complicated network. This system of enmeshed veins gives the leaf more resistance to tearing than most parallel-veined leaves. Net-venation may be either pinnate or palmate. In pinnate venation, the veins extend laterally from the midrib to the edge, as in apple, cherry and peach. Palmate venation occurs in grape and maple leaves, where the principal veins extend outward, like the ribs of a fan, from the petiole near the base of the leaf blade. Net-veined leaves occur on plants which are part of the dicotyledon group.​ Leaves as a Means of Identifying Plants Leaves are useful in identifying species and varieties of horticultural plants. The shape of the leaf blade and the type of margin are of major importance as identifying characteristics. Simple leaves are those in which the leaf blade is a single continuous unit. A compound leaf is composed of several separate leaflets arising from the same petiole. A deeply lobed leaf may appear similar to a compound leaf, but if the leaflets are connected by narrow bands of blade tissue it may be classified as a simple leaf. If the leaflets have separate stalks and if these stalks are jointed at the point of union with the main leafstalk, the leaf is considered to be compound. Some leaves may be doubly compound, having divisions of the leaflets.​ [SIZE=-1]Apex[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Base[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Apex[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Base[/SIZE] Shape of the Leaf Blade The following are some common shapes which are found in leaves and leaflets. Linear: Narrow, several times longer than wide; approximately the same width. Elliptical: 2 or 3 times longer than wide; tapering to an acute or rounded apex and base. Ovate: Egg-shaped, basal portion wide; tapering toward the apex. Lanceolate: Longer than wide; tapering toward the apex and base. Cordate: Heart-shaped, broadly ovate; tapering to an acute apex, with the base turning in and forming a notch where the petiole is attached Shape of the Leaf Apex and Base The following are common shapes found in leaves. Apex Acuminate: Tapering to a long, narrow point. Acute: Ending in an acute angle, with a sharp, but not acuminate, point. Base Obtuse: Tapering to a rounded edge. Sagittate: Arrowhead-shaped, with two pointed lower lobes. Truncate: Having a relatively square end. Leaf Margins Studying leaf margins is especially useful in the identification of certain varieties of fruit plants. Entire: A smooth edge with no teeth or notches. Sinuate: Having a pronounced sinuous or wavy margin. Crenate: Having rounded teeth. Dentate: Having teeth ending in an acute angle, pointing outward. Serrate: Having small, sharp teeth pointing toward the apex. Incised: Margin cut into sharp, deep, irregular teeth or incisions. Lobed: Incisions extend less than halfway to the midrib. Cleft: Incisions extend more than halfway to the midrib. Leaf Arrangement along a Stem The various ways leaves are arranged along a stem are also used to help identify plants. Rosulate arrangement is one in which the basal leaves form a rosette around the stem with extremely short nodes. Opposite leaves are positioned across the stem from each other, two leaves at each node. Alternate or spiral leaves are arranged in alternate steps along the stem with only one leaf at each node. Whorled leaves are arranged in circles along the stem.​ Leaves as Food The leaf blade is the principal edible part of several horticultural crops including chive, collard, dandelion, endive, kale, leaf lettuce, mustard, parsley, spinach, and Swiss chard. The edible part of leek, onion, and Florence fennel is a cluster of fleshy leaf bases. The petiole of the leaf is the edible product in celery and rhubarb. In plants like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and head lettuce, the leaves form a large, naked bud and are the edible product.​

[HR][/HR] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=+2]BOTANY: PLANT PARTS AND FUNCTIONS [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1][continued][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1]Previous[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]MG Manual Reference [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]Ch. 1, pp. 15 - 16[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1][Plant Parts and Functions: stems | leaves | buds | roots | flowers | fruit | seeds][/SIZE][/FONT] [h=3]BUDS [/h] A bud is an undeveloped shoot from which embryonic leaves or flower parts arise. The buds of trees and shrubs of the temperate zone typically develop a protective outer layer of small, leathery, bud scales. Annual plants and herbaceous perennials have naked buds in which the outer leaves are green and somewhat succulent.​ Buds of many plants require exposure to a certain number of days below a critical temperature (rest) before they will resume growth in the spring. This time period varies for different plants. The flower buds of forsythia require a relatively short rest period and will grow at the first sign of warm weather. Many peach varieties require 700 to 1,000 hours of temperatures below 45°F (7°C) before they will resume growth. During rest, dormant buds can withstand very low temperatures, but after the rest period is satisfied, buds become more susceptible to weather conditions and can be damaged easily by cold temperatures or frost.​ A leaf bud is composed of a short stem with embryonic leaves, with bud primordia in the axils and at the apex. Such buds develop into leafy shoots. Leaf buds are often less plump and more pointed than flower buds.​ A flower bud is composed of a short stem with embryonic flower parts. In some cases the flower buds of plants which produce fruit crops of economic importance are called fruit buds. This terminology is objectionable because flowers have the potential for developing into fruit. This development may never occur because of adverse weather conditions, lack of pollination or other unfavorable circumstances. The structure is a flower bud and should be so designated since it may never set fruit.​ Types of Buds Buds are named for the location which they inhabit on the stem surface. Terminal buds are those which are located at the apex of a stem. Lateral buds are borne on the sides of the stem. Most lateral buds arise in the axis of a leaf and are called axillary buds. In some instances more than one bud is formed. Adventitious buds are those which arise at sites other than in the terminal or axillary position. Adventitious buds may develop from the internode of the stem; at the edge of a leaf blade; from callus tissue at the cut end of a stem or root; or laterally from the roots of a plant.​ Buds as Food Enlarged buds or parts of buds form the edible portion of some horticultural crops. Cabbage and head lettuce are examples of unusually large terminal buds. Succulent axillary buds of Brussels sprouts become the edible part of this plant. In the case of globe artichoke, the fleshy basal portion of the bracts of the flower bud are eaten along with the solid stem portion of the bud. Broccoli is the most important horticultural plant in which edible flower buds are consumed. In this case, portions of the stem as well as small leaves associated with the flower buds are eaten.​

[HR][/HR] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=+2]BOTANY: PLANT PARTS AND FUNCTIONS [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1][continued][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1]Previous[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]MG Manual Reference [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]Ch. 1, pp. 16 - 19[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1][Plant Parts and Functions: stems | leaves | buds | roots | flowers | fruit | seeds][/SIZE][/FONT] [h=3]ROOTS [/h] A thorough knowledge of the root system of plants is essential if their growth, flowering, and fruiting responses are to be understood. The structure and growth habits of roots have a pronounced effect on the size and vigor of the plant, method of propagation, adaptation to certain soil types, and response to cultural practices and irrigation. The roots of certain vegetable crops are important as food. Roots typically originate from the lower portion of a plant or cutting. They possess a root cap, have no nodes and never bear leaves or flowers directly. The principal functions of roots are to absorb nutrients and moisture, to anchor the plant in the soil, to furnish physical support for the stem, and to serve as food storage organs. In some plants they may be used as a means of propagation.​ Types of Roots A primary (radicle) root originates at the lower end of the embryo of a seedling plant. A taproot is formed when the primary root continues to elongate downward. This makes them difficult to transplant and necessitates planting only in deep, well-drained soil. The taproot of carrot, parsnip, and salsify is the principal edible part of these crops. ​ A lateral, or secondary root is a side or branch root which arises from another root. A fibrous root system is one in which the primary root ceases to elongate, leading to the development of numerous lateral roots. These then branch repeatedly and form the feeding root system of the plant. A fibrous root is one which remains small in diameter because of a lack of significant cambial activity. One factor which causes shrubs and dwarf trees to remain smaller than standard trees is the lower activity rate of the cambium tissue which produces a smaller root system.​ If plants that normally develop a taproot are undercut so that the taproot is severed early in the plant’s life, the root will lose its taproot characteristic and develop a fibrous root system. This is done commercially in nurseries so that trees, which naturally have tap roots, will develop a compact, fibrous root system. This allows a higher rate of transplanting success.​ The quantity and distribution of plant roots is very important because these two factors have a major influence on the absorption of moisture and nutrients. The depth and spread of the roots is dependent on the inherent growth characteristics of the plant and the texture and structure of the soil. Roots will penetrate much deeper in a loose, well-drained soil than in a heavy, poorly-drained soil. A dense, compacted layer in the soil will restrict or stop root growth.​ During early development, a seedling plant nutrients and moisture from the few inches of soil surrounding it. Therefore, the early growth of most horticultural crops which are seeded in rows benefits from band applications of fertilizer, placed several inches to each side and slightly below the seeds.​ As plants become well-established, the root system develops laterally and usually extends far beyond the spread of the branches. For most cultivated crops roots meet and overlap between the rows. The greatest concentration of fibrous roots occurs in the top foot of soil but significant numbers of laterals may grow downward from these roots to provide an effective absorption system a couple of feet deep.​ Parts of a Root Internally, there are three major parts of a root. The meristem is at the tip and manufactures new cells. It is an area of cell division and growth. Behind it is the zone of elongation, in which cells increase in size through food and water absorption. These cells by increasing in size, push the root through the soil. The third major root part is the maturation zone, in which cells undergo changes in order to become specific tissues such as epidermis, cortex, or vascular tissue. The epidermis is the outermost layer of cells surrounding the root. These cells are responsible for the absorption of water and minerals dissolved in water. Cortex cells are involved in the movement of water from the epidermis and in food storage. A layer of suberized (a fatty material in some cells), known as the Casparian strips, has regulatory effect on the types of minerals absorbed and transported by the roots to stems and leaves.​ Vascular tissues conduct food and water and are located in the center of the root. However, some monocots have the vascular system of their roots distributed around the root center.​ Externally there are two areas of importance. Root hairs are found along the main root and perform much of the actual work of water and nutrient absorption. The root cap is the outermost tip of the root, and consists of cells that are sloughed off as the root grows through the soil. The root cap covers and protects the meristem and also senses gravity and directs in what direction the root grows.​ Roots as Food The enlarged root is the edible portion of several vegetable crops. The sweet potato is a swollen root, called a tuberous root, which serves as a food storage area for the plant. Carrot, parsnip, salsify, and radish are elongated taproots. ​

[HR][/HR] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=+2]BOTANY: PLANT PARTS AND FUNCTIONS [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1][continued][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1]Previous[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]MG Manual Reference [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-2]Ch. 1, pp. 19 - 22[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvitica][SIZE=-1][Plant Parts and Functions: stems | leaves | buds | roots | flowers | fruit | seeds][/SIZE][/FONT] Naming Plants Binomial nomenclature is the scientific system of giving a double name to plants and animals. The first, or genus name, is followed by a descriptive or species name. Modern plant classification, or taxonomy, is based on a system of binomial nomenclature developed by the Swedish physician Carolus Linnaeus (1707-177. Prior to Linnaeus, people had tried to base classification on leaf shape, plant size, flower color, etc. None of these systems proved workable. Linnaeus’s revolutionary approach was to base classification on the flowers and/or reproductive parts of a plant and to give plants a genus and species name. This has proven to be the best system since flowers are the plant part least influenced by environmental changes. For this reason a knowledge of the flower and its parts is essential to plant identification. [h=3]FLOWERS [/h] The sole function of the flower, which is generally the showiest part of the plant, is sexual reproduction. Its attractiveness and fragrance have not evolved to please man but to ensure the continuance of the plant species. Fragrance and color are devices to attract pollinators that play an important role in the reproductive process.​ Parts of the Flower As the reproductive part of the plant the flower contains the male pollen and/or the female ovule plus accessory parts such as petals, sepals, and nectar glands.​ The pistil is the female part of the plant. It is generally shaped like a bowling pin and located in the center of the flower. It consists of the stigma, style, and ovary. The stigma is located at the top, and is connected to the ovary by the style. The ovary contains the eggs which reside in the ovules. After the egg is fertilized the ovule develops into a seed.​ The stamen is the male reproductive organ. It consists of a pollen sac (anther) and a long supporting filament. This filament holds the anther in position so the pollen it contains may be disbursed by wind or carried to the stigma by insects, birds or bats.​ Sepals are small green, leaflike structures on the base of the flower which protect the flower bud. The sepals collectively are called the calyx.​ Petals are highly colored portions of the flower. They may contain perfume as well as nectar glands. The petals collectively are called the corolla. The number of petals on a flower is often used in the identification of plant families and genera. Flowers of dicots typically have sepals and/or petals in multiples of four or five. Monocots typically have these floral parts in multiples of three.​ Types of Flowers If a flower has a stamen, pistils, petals, and sepals, it is called a complete flower. If one of these parts is missing, the flower is designated incomplete. If a flower contains functional stamens and pistils, it is called a perfect flower. (Stamen and pistils are considered the essential parts of a flower.) If either of the essential parts is lacking, the flower is imperfect.​ Pistillate (female) flowers are those which possess a functional pistil(s) but lack stamens. Staminate (male) flowers contain stamens but no pistils. Because cross-fertilization combines different genetic material and produces stronger seed, cross-pollinated plants are usually more successful than self-pollinated plants. Consequently, more plants reproduce by cross-pollination than self-pollination.​ As previously mentioned, there are plants which bear only male flowers (staminate plants) or bear only female flowers (pistillate plants). Species in which the sexes are separated into staminate and pistillate plants are called dioecious. Most holly trees and pistachio trees are dioecious; therefore, to obtain berries, it is necessary to have female and male trees. Monoecious plants are those which have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Corn plants and pecan trees are examples. Some plants bear only male flowers at the beginning of the growing season, but later develop flowers of both sexes; examples are cucumbers and squash.​ How Seeds Form Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma. This may occur by wind or by pollinators. Wind-pollinated flowers lack showy floral parts and nectar since they don't need to attract a pollinator. Flowers are brightly colored or patterned and contain a fragrance or nectar when they must attract insects, animals, or birds. In the process of searching for nectar these pollinators will transfer pollen from flower to flower.​ The stigma contains a chemical which stimulates the pollen, causing it to grow a long tube down the inside of the style to the ovules inside the ovary. The sperm is released by the pollen grain and fertilization typically occurs. Fertilization is the union of the male sperm nucleus (from the pollen grain) and the female egg (in the ovule). If fertilization is successful, the ovule will develop into a seed.​ Types of Inflorescences Some plants bear only one flower per stem and are called solitary flowers. Other plants produce an inflorescence, a term which refers to a cluster of flowers and how they are arranged on a floral stem. Most inflorescences may be classified into two groups, racemes and cymes.​ In the racemose group, the florets, which are individual flowers in an inflorescence, bloom from the bottom of the stem and progress toward the top. Some examples of racemose inflorescence include spike, raceme, corymb, umbel, and head. A spike is an inflorescence in which many stemless florets are attached to an elongated flower stem or peduncle, an example being gladiolus. A raceme is similar to a spike except the florets are borne on small stems attached to the peduncle. An example of a raceme inflorescence is the snapdragon. A corymb is made up of florets whose stalks and pedicels are arranged at random along the peduncle in such a way that the florets create a flat, round top. Yarrow has a corymb inflorescence. An umbel is similar except that the pedicels all arise from one point on the peduncle. Dill has an umbel inflorescence. A head or composite inflorescence is made up of numerous stemless florets which is characteristic of daisy inflorescence.​ In the cyme group, the top floret opens first and blooms downward along the peduncle. A dischasium cyme has florets opposite each other along the peduncle. Baby’s breath inflorescence is an example. A helicoid cyme is one in which the lower florets are all on the same side of the peduncle, examples being freesia and statice inflorescences. A scorpioid cyme is one in which the florets are alternate to each other along the peduncle. Examples are tomato and potato inflorescences.​

[HR][/HR] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]

elkukupanda said:

bro, i understand the concept behind innovation but like... there are scientist out there already doing all kind of tests... there is proof about this topic already.... reports have been submitted over and over but people want to prove their point no matter what...

Click to expand...