bladvev

Bladvev is a term used in some Scandinavian languages to refer to the tissue of a leaf. In botanical contexts it denotes the collective tissues that make up the leaf, rather than any single cell type. The spelling bladvev is commonly encountered in older or regionally specific texts, while modern Danish or Norwegian usage may prefer bladvæv.

Leaf tissue comprises several distinct layers and structures. The epidermis forms the outer protective layer, often covered by a waxy cuticle to reduce water loss. Beneath this lies the mesophyll, which in many leaves is differentiated into a palisade layer rich in chloroplasts and a spongy layer with air spaces that facilitate gas exchange. Veins contain vascular tissue, including xylem and phloem, which supply water and minerals and transport sugars throughout the leaf. In higher plants, stomata in the epidermis regulate gas exchange and transpiration.

Functionally, bladvev supports photosynthesis, transpiration, and nutrient transport. Its organization varies among plant groups; for example, monocots often show a different mesophyll arrangement compared to dicots, and adaptations in leaf thickness and stomatal density reflect environmental conditions. While bladvev is a useful descriptive term in Scandinavian botany, in English-language texts the more general term leaf tissue or leaf anatomy is typically used.

See also: leaf anatomy, mesophyll, epidermis, stomata.