Many resources state that the variety used for Syrian Latakia is " Shekk-el-bint" which is said to be narrow and long leaf. Especially Turkish resources indicates that this variety is very similar to Yayladağ, even some resources says that they're same.
I found an almost whole leaf WLT's Latakia in good shape and flattaned it gently. It seems more narrow in the photo due to the press applied for flattening (midrib warp) but measurements were taken in correct stretched form.
The important point for being sure about the "wholeleafness" is noticing the needle hole which is located in the midrib, leaf stalk - petiole, where the leaf is strung. This part is generally missing in WLT's Latakia so it may mislead people about the leaf attachment form.
I also have a commercially grown Yayladağ leaf, now the only thing is comparing them.
* The widest part of the leaf located on the upper half of the leaf.
** Leaf tip and secondary vein angle may change according to stalk position.
Values of WLT Latakia fit pretty well with both theorical and sample values of Yayladağ. There may be a leaf very similar to Yayladağ but there's a claim that Syrian Latakia used to be produced with Yayladağ (or a similar) variety and I think this measurements strengthen that claim.
As I recall, there was a doubt about the origin of WLT's Latakia, is it Syrian or Cyprian ? If it's Cyprian, the leaf does not seem like a present-day İzmir type leaf. I don't know when the variety used for Latakia production arrived to Cyprus but there's another claim on this. Seeds arrived from Latakia or from Yayladağ.
I found an almost whole leaf WLT's Latakia in good shape and flattaned it gently. It seems more narrow in the photo due to the press applied for flattening (midrib warp) but measurements were taken in correct stretched form.
The important point for being sure about the "wholeleafness" is noticing the needle hole which is located in the midrib, leaf stalk - petiole, where the leaf is strung. This part is generally missing in WLT's Latakia so it may mislead people about the leaf attachment form.
I also have a commercially grown Yayladağ leaf, now the only thing is comparing them.
| Yayladağ (sample) | WLT Latakia | Yayladağ (theorical) | |
| Length | 26 | 25 | 15-25 |
| Width | 10 | 9 | 8-10 |
| L/W Ratio | 2.6 | 2.7 | 1.9-2.5 2.5 (in the photo) |
| Leaf Shape | Elliptic * | Elliptic * | Elliptic * |
| Petiole Shape | Sessile (Broad Auricles) | Sessile (Broad Auricles) | Sessile (Broad Auricles) |
| Traditional | Kabakulak | Kabakulak | Kabakulak |
| Tip Angle ** | Moderate | Acute | Acute - Moderate Acute (in the photo) |
| Vein Angle ** | ~50[SUP]o[/SUP] | ~55[SUP]o[/SUP] | Not defined ~50[SUP]o [/SUP](in the photo) |
* The widest part of the leaf located on the upper half of the leaf.
** Leaf tip and secondary vein angle may change according to stalk position.
Values of WLT Latakia fit pretty well with both theorical and sample values of Yayladağ. There may be a leaf very similar to Yayladağ but there's a claim that Syrian Latakia used to be produced with Yayladağ (or a similar) variety and I think this measurements strengthen that claim.
As I recall, there was a doubt about the origin of WLT's Latakia, is it Syrian or Cyprian ? If it's Cyprian, the leaf does not seem like a present-day İzmir type leaf. I don't know when the variety used for Latakia production arrived to Cyprus but there's another claim on this. Seeds arrived from Latakia or from Yayladağ.
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