Question

Give an example of vegetative reproduction in leaves.

Answer 1

Hint: Many plants reproduce naturally, that gives rise to new individuals naturally but it can be artificially induced as well. Asexual vegetative propagation techniques have been developed by horticulturalists that use vegetative plant parts to reproduce plants. Success rates and propagation difficulties differ greatly in natural and artificial methods.

Complete answer:
Vegetative Reproduction/Propagation is defined as a method of multiplication in which a somatic part of the plant detaches from the body of the mother and develops into a new independent plant under suitable environmental conditions.

There are two kinds of vegetative reproduction
1.Natural methods of vegetative reproduction.
2.Artificial or Horticultural method of vegetative reproduction.
The detachable somatic part that has a role in vegetative propagation is called vegetative propagule.
Bryophyllum is a succulent tropical herb of the Crassulaceae family and it is one of the few plants that can form vegetative buds from the leaf tissue. New shoots grow and develop at a special point in the leaf margins.
Also, the bryophyllum tissue is very life- threatening and damaging which greatly facilitates the laboratory study of plant habits and reactions to various growing conditions.
The pigments grow towards the most active region of growth which is the base of the leaf. It develops and produces new shoots even when it is hung up using a string and so it is often called as Air Plants.
The Bryophyllum leaf is wide and contains many notches. The notch is composed of buds known as epiphyllous buds that fall to the soil and germinate to form new plant
Some more examples include: Begonia.

Note: Leaves of several plants having adventitious buds help in vegetative reproduction. In Bryophyllum adventitious buds arise from the notches present at margins of leaves. e.g., Adiantum (walking fern), Begonia, Kalanchoe.