A very short leaf, such as in a moss or clubmoss, with a single unbranched vein and no leaf gaps in the stele.
〔植〕小型叶
Example sentencesExamples
Many groups (Lycopodiaceae is an exception) have a ligule or small flap of tissue adaxially above each microphyll, or its homologous sporophyll.
The extension of the vascular system into the flaps of tissue creates a true leaf, in this case a microphyll.
Are the leaves microphylls as in lycopsids or megaphylls?
The microphyll has only a single unbranched strand of vascular tissue, or vein, whereas megaphylls, found in other plants with leaves, have multiple veins, usually branching one or more times within the leaf.
The only lineage that has survived is the horsetails, which are herbaceous and share characters with their extinct progenitors such as articulate stems with microphylls arranged in whorls.