by Mary Free and Christa Watters, Extension Master Gardeners
Stipules are modified leaves that originate from the bases of leaf primordia (rudiments). Their size and shape vary widely among species, but they are typically much smaller than and distinct from the primary leaves, often leading casual observers to overlook them. However, rose enthusiasts likely recognize stipules even if they do not know them by name. In roses, a prominent pair of stipules fuses along the petiole at its base, creating a distinctive wing-like appearance.
Rose stipules are characterized as adnate. Six other different types of stipules—annular, foliaceous and free lateral, interpetiolar, ocreate, and tendrillar—are pictured on the plants below. Can you identify the stipules and the plant species?
Click here to learn more about stipules, including how common they are among plant families, their functions, and the identification/description of the plant species/stipules pictured below.
