The basal portion of a leaf that wraps around and encases the stem, commonly found in grasses and other monocots. The sheath provides structural support and protection to the growing stem.
From Old English 'scēath' meaning 'covering' or 'case,' combined with 'leaf.' The term became standard in botanical literature during the 19th century as grass morphology was systematically studied.
Leaf sheaths are like natural plant armor! In bamboo, these sheaths are so tough they're used to make paper and textiles, while in corn, the sheath protects the developing ear.
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