British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Plant Leaf definition

Description: Plant leaves are a central part of the ecosystem. They produce their own food by retaining moisture on the underside of their leaves. By absorbing CO₂ with water from the ground, plants use sunlight to manufacture glucose (sugar). Plants are then eaten by animals and this forms the basis of the food chain. In nature the greenery that we see everywhere is because leaves contain a special chemical called 'chlorophyll' which enables them to harness the energy in sunlight. Leaves are therefore important for all life. Leaves come in a wide variety of shapes; they can be broad, or thin, depending on the surrounding environment. For example, in places that are dry, leaves tend to be thicker and more waxy; some are larger because they don't get enough access to sunlight. Evergreen leaves are usually thin and can be seen all year round.