Heliophytes and sciophytes.(A) This manzanita (Manzanita spp.) displays many of the characteristics of heliophytes, including small leaves that are oriented edge-on to the Sun. (Note the hummingbird in the foreground for scale.) (B) The giant rhubarb (Gunnera manicata) has one of the largest leaves of any plant. Its leaves are up to 3 m (11 ft) across. Giant rhubarb’s leaves have many sciophyte characteristics, including their large size and dark green color, that maximize their absorption of sunlight.
(Left, Used with permission of www.laspilitas.com; right, Dr Morley Read/Science Source)
