This work was conducted on Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) in North Sumatra (indortesia), and carbon isotope discrimination was used to get a better understanding of the major ecophysiological traits involved in the growth and development of this tropical tree and more particularly on the carbon allocation to the bunches and the use of reserves. Carbon isotope signature (13C/12C) was measured on bulk organic matter which is supposed to integrate metabolic pathways during the elaboration of the organs. Similar analyses were done on soluble sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose), starch and lipids, to study the plant metabolism during ontogenesis. The first part of the work deals with the development and the growth of the leaves. Emphasis was beard on the passage from heterotrophy to autotrophy. For the leaves, different growing stages were sampled from rank -6 to rank 45. Carbon isotope analyses were done at the technical platform of IFR 87 in IBP. The mean value for [delta] 13C of bulk organic matter for all the samples taken from all the organs was -27.46 %0 ±0.93, which is normally expected for a C3 plant like oil palm. Differences within trees and organs (for the same tree) and developmental stages (for the same organ) revealed a nice gradient along the leaf ranks. An expected gradient within leaves was also obtained; from leaflets (mean [delta] 13C = - 28.22 %0 ±1.01) to rachis ([delta] 13C = -27.04 %0 ±0.38) and to petioles ([delta] 13C = -26.91 %0 ±0,56), with photosynthetic tissues being 13C-depleted (more than 1 %0) compared to others. Leaves are 13C-enriched at ranks below zero (around -27%0). At these stages, the leaves being completely heterotrophic, reserves from source organs are mobilised for the growth of these young emerging leaves. 13C-depletion is observed when the leaf is expanding at rank 1, and continues to decrease during progressive passage from heterotrophy to autotrophy and until reaching the fully autotrophy at rank 8. Thereafter, [delta