Unrolling of Syngonium podophyllum: Functional Anatomy, Morphology and Modelling of Its Peltate Leaves

The mechanisms underlying leaf unfolding remain largely speculative and are often inferred from mathematical models. Peltate leaves, unlike typical foliage leaves, frequently emerge in a "rolled-up" state. This study investigates mechanisms related to the unrolling process in the peltate species Syngonium podophyllum by analyzing anatomical and morphological changes and quantifying forces that arise during unrolling. Leaf unrolling in S. podophyllum appears to be primarily driven by cell expansion, particularly in the upper epidermis, with cell turgor playing an important role in leaf development and unrolling. Considering leaf properties such as cell dimensions and leaf radius of curvature, this work proposes a mathematical model to further characterize the unrolling process. The model provides satisfactory predictions of curvature variations, highlighting its potential for other plant movements involving dynamic curvature changes.