alternate leaf arrangement

In plant anatomy, an alternate leaf arrangement describes how leaves are positioned on a stem. In this pattern, a single leaf emerges at each node, and these leaves are arranged in a spiral up the stem. This arrangement is common in many plant species.1

The stem of a plant serves several crucial functions: it supports the leaves, transports water and minerals from the roots to the leaves for photosynthesis, and distributes the products of photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant. Stems can also store food and water. Leaves, in turn, are the primary sites for photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.23