Why do leaves have oil in them?

Question

Why do leaves have oil in them?

Answer 1

Do they?! Oops should have gone to school more often!

Answer 2

because its a living thing that takes in nutrients

Answer 3

It's a good question with more questions than answers.  Some of the oils are fungistatic, fungicidal or insect anti-feedants.  Some may serve as "antifreeze" or photosynthate storage.  Some are of unknown usefulness to the plant.

These should get you started:

http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/9...

http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/Eucl...

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob...

Answer 4

Plants need to store the resources they have built up though photosynthesis. Some plants store it as starch e.g. potatoes, other as oil, e.g castor oil. In each species it is only one or the other.