Comparative analysis of differential gene expression indicates divergence in ontogenetic strategies of leaves in two conifer genera.

In land plants, heteroblasty broadly refers to a drastic change in morphology during growth through ontogeny. and are conifers of independent lineages known to exhibit leaf heteroblasty between the juvenile and adult life stage of development. Juvenile leaves of develop spirally on the main stem and appear decurrent, flattened, and needle-like; whereas adult photosynthetic leaves are triangular or semi-circular needle-like, and grow in whorls on secondary or tertiary compact dwarf shoots.