Probable RNA-binding protein. Involved in the regular timing (plastochron) of lateral organs formation. May regulate the rate of leaf initiation and the duration of vegetative phase. Seems to be redundant to the function of PLASTOCHRON1, but to act in an independent pathway. Highly expressed in shoot apex and inflorescence apex, at intermediate levels in roots and at low levels in leaf blade and leaf sheath. Expressed in leaf primordia, vascular bundles and radicle of the embryo. At the vegetative stage, expressed in crown root and shoot apices. In the shoot apex, first expressed in the leaf plastochron 1 (P1), and then P2, P3 and P4 primordia. Not expressed in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). In the early reproductive phase, expressed in bracts and external layers of the rachis meristem. At the late stages, expressed in branch meristems, floral meristems and floral organs. Plants produce threefold the number of leaves, and leaf size and plant height are strongly reduced compared to wild-type. Shoot apical meristem (SAM) shows a higher rate of cell division and internode elongation is significantly reduced. Some inflorescence branches are converted into vegetative shoots. Plastochron is defined as the time interval between leaf initiation events.