heteroblasty

Heteroblasty is a developmental pattern in which an organism exhibits two or more distinct morphologies at different life stages. In botany, it most often refers to abrupt changes in vegetative form during maturation, especially in leaves, but can also involve stems or reproductive structures. The transition is not simply a matter of size; juvenile and adult forms may differ in leaf shape, arrangement, pubescence, and growth habit. The term is primarily used for flowering plants and is less commonly applied to animals.

In many woody angiosperms, juvenile leaves differ markedly from adult leaves. For example, some Eucalyptus species have juvenile leaves that are small, opposite, and rounded, while adult leaves are larger, lanceolate, and alternately arranged. Other genera such as Acacia and Melaleuca also exhibit heteroblastic changes in leaf form or other organs. Environmental factors, including light regime, can influence the timing and extent of heteroblasty in some species.

The changes are driven by developmental gene expression and hormonal signals, with plant hormones such as gibberellins, auxins, and cytokinins playing roles in phase change and organ identity shifts. Heteroblasty can provide adaptive benefits by matching morphology to changing light environments, improving photosynthetic performance at different life stages, or altering interactions with herbivores. It has practical implications for taxonomy and cultivation, since juvenile and adult morphologies can resemble different taxa or require different identification criteria. In horticulture, both juvenile form and adult form may be valued for different ornamental qualities.