Drawing Leaf Structure: Skills (SL IB Biology)

• You will be expected to identify the following structures in the leaf of a dicotyledonous plant:
  • Chloroplasts
  • Cuticle
  • Guard cells
  • Stomata
  • Upper and lower epidermis
  • Palisade mesophyll
  • Spongy mesophyll
  • Air spaces
  • Vascular bundles (xylem and phloem)

Structure of Leaf Diagram

Diagram showing the transverse section of a leaf

Drawing a plan diagram

• Plan diagrams are drawings made from micrographs or from viewing specimens under a low magnification
• Keep the following in mind when drawing a plan diagram:
  • No individual cells are drawn, only tissue layers enclosed by lines should be present
  • Pay attention to the distribution of tissue throughout the plant organ
  • Use a sharp pencil and draw clear, continuous lines
  • Do not shade any part of your drawing
  • Make sure your proportions and observations are accurate
    • Draw what you actually see, not what you would expect to see from a textbook
  • Draw your drawing big enough to fill up at least half the available space
• When labelling your plan diagram remember to: 
  • Use a ruler to draw label lines, not freehand
  • Avoid using arrowheads and make sure the label lines stop at the structure
  • Make sure label lines do not cross each other
  • Write all labels horizontally, not at different angles