Photosynthesis in Relation to Leaf Orientation and Light Interoeption

Abstract

This paper examines the photosynthetic response of single attached leaves (of four different species) to an increasing angle of incidence (8) of incoming radiation. The intensity of light falling upon a leaf can be deduced from geometrical optics to be proportional to cos 8. The results reported here suggest that the photosynthetic. activity of leaves exposed to a limiting light intensity follows a similar relationship. Explanations of this empirically determined relationship are discussed.