Heterophylly in Murraya exotica L. (Rutaceae)

Heterophylly, the existence of different leaf types and leaflet shapes on the same plant was observed for the first time in Murraya exotica L. populations from different locations in Java, Indonesia. In each population, three types of compound leaves (paripinnate, imparipinnate and intermediate) and three types of leaflet shape (oblong, rounded and obcordate) were observed. This heterophyllous condition was found on both juvenile and adult plants. The variation in leaf type and leaflet shape may be due to the environmental conditions prevailing at the time of leaf production directing leaf development or due to developmental noise caused by random interactions between genes and the environment