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Glossary of leaf morphology
The following is a defined list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular or irregular, may be smooth or bearing hair, bristles or spines. For more terms describing other aspects of leaves besides their overall morphology see the leaf article.
Chart illustrating leaf morphology terms
Contents
1 Leaf structure
2 Leaf and leaflet shapes
3 Edge
4 Leaf folding
5 Latin descriptions
6 See also
7 References
8 Bibliography
9 External links
Leaf structure
A ternate compound leaf with a petiole but no rachis (or rachillae)
Leaves of most plants include a flat structure called the blade or lamina, but not all leaves are flat, some are cylindrical. Leaves may be simple, with a single leaf blade, or compound, with several leaflets. In flowering plants, as well as the blade of the leaf, there may be a petiole and stipules; compound leaves may have a rachis supporting the leaflets. Leaf structure is described by several terms that include:
| Image | Term | Latin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | bifoliolate | Having two leaflets[1] | |
geminate | |||
jugate | |||
 | bigeminate | Having two leaflets, each leaflet being bifoliolate | |
 | bipinnate | bipinnatus | The leaflets are themselves pinnately-compound; twice pinnate |
 | biternate | With three components, each with three leaflets | |
 | imparipinnate | With an odd number of leaflets, pinnate with a terminal leaflet (the opposite of paripinnate) | |
| odd-pinnate | |||
 | paripinnate | Pinnate with an even number of leaflets, lacking a terminal leaflet (the opposite of imparipinnate) | |
| even-pinnate | |||
 | palmately compound | palmatus | Consisting of leaflets all radiating from one point |
pinnately compound | pinnatus | Having two rows of leaflets on opposite sides of a central axis, see imparipinnate and paripinnate | |
| simple | Leaf blade in one continuous section, without leaflets (not compound) | ||
 | ternate | ternatus | With three leaflets |
trifoliate | trifoliatus | ||
trifoliolate | trifoliolatus | ||
 | tripinnate | tripinnatus | Pinnately compound in which each leaflet is itself bipinnate |
Leaf and leaflet shapes
Being one of the more visible features, leaf shape is commonly used for plant identification. Similar terms are used for other plant parts, such as petals, tepals, and bracts.
Oddly pinnate, pinnatifid leaves (Apium graveolens, celery)
Partial chlorosis revealing palmate venation in simple leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis
| Image | Term | Latin | Refers principally to | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | acicular | acicularis | entire leaf | Slender and pointed, needle-like. |
 | acuminate | acuminatus | leaf tip | Tapering to a long point in a concave manner. |
 | acute | leaf tip or base | Pointed, having a short sharp apex angled less than 90°. | |
 | apiculate | apiculatus | leaf tip | Tapering and ending in a short, slender point. |
 | aristate | aristatus | leaf tip | Ending in a stiff, bristle-like point. |
 | attenuate | attenuatus | leaf base | Having leaf tissue taper down the petiole to a narrow base, always having some leaf material on each side of the petiole. |
 | auriculate | auriculatus | leaf base | Having ear-shaped appendages reaching beyond the attachment to the petiole or to the stem (in case of a seated leaf). |
| asymmetrical | entire leaf | With the blade shape different on each side of the midrib. | ||
 | caudate | caudatus | leaf tip | Tailed at the apex. |
 | cordate | cordatus | entire leaf | Heart-shaped, with the petiole or stem attached to the notch. |
 | cuneate | cuneatus | leaf base | Triangular, wedge-shaped, stem attaches to point. |
 | cuspidate | cuspidatus | leaf tip | With a sharp, elongated, rigid tip; tipped with a cusp. |
 | deltoid or deltate | deltoideus | entire leaf | Shaped like Greek letter Delta, triangular, stem attaches to side. |
 | digitate | digitatus | entire leaf | With finger-like lobes, similar to palmate.[2] |
 | elliptic | ellipticus | entire leaf | Oval, with a short or no point. |
 | ensiform | ensiformis | entire leaf | Shaped like a sword, long and narrow with a sharp pointed tip. |
 | emarginate | emarginatus | leaf tip | Slightly indented at the tip. |
 | falcate | falcatus | entire leaf | Sickle-shaped. |
 | fenestrate | fenestratus | surface features | Large openings through the leaf, see perforate. Sometimes use to describes leaf epidermal windows. |
 | filiform | filiformis | entire leaf | Thread- or filament-shaped. |
 | flabellate | flabellatus | entire leaf | Semi-circular, or fan-like. |
 | hastate | hastatus | entire leaf | Spear-shaped: Pointed, with barbs, shaped like a spear point, with flaring pointed lobes at the base. |
 | laciniate | lacinatus | entire leaf | Very deeply lobed, the lobes being very drawn out, often making the leaf look somewhat like a branch or a pitchfork. |
 | lanceolate | lanceolatus | entire leaf | Long, wider in the middle, shaped like a lance tip. |
| laminar | 3-d shape | Flat (like most leaves) | ||
 | linear | linearis | entire leaf | Long and very narrow like a blade of grass. |
 | lobed | lobatus | entire leaf | Being divided by clefts, may be pinnately lobed or palmately lobed. |
 | lorate | loratus | entire leaf | Having the form of a thong or strap. |
 | lyrate | lyratus | entire leaf | Shaped like a lyre, pinnately lobed leaf with an enlarged terminal lobe and smaller lateral lobes. |
 | mucronate | mucronatus | leaf tip | Ending abruptly in a small sharp point as a continuation of the midrib.[3] |
 | multifid | multi + findere | entire leaf | Cleft into many parts or lobes. |
 | obcordate | obcordatus | entire leaf | Heart-shaped, stem attaches at the tapering end. |
 | oblanceolate | oblanceolatus | entire leaf | Much longer than wide and with the widest portion near the tip, reversed lanceolate. |
 | oblique | leaf base | Asymmetrical leaf base, with one side lower than the other | |
 | oblong | oblongus | entire leaf | Having an elongated form with slightly parallel sides, roughly rectangular. |
 | obovate | obovatus | entire leaf | Teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to the tapering end; reversed ovate. |
| obtrullate | entire leaf | Reversed trullate, the longer sides meet at the base rather than the apex. | ||
 | obtuse | obtusus | tip | Blunt, forming an angle > 90°. |
 | orbicular | orbicularis | entire leaf | Circular. |
 | ovate | ovatus | entire leaf | Oval, egg-shaped, with a tapering point and the widest portion near the petiole. |
 | palmate | palmatus | entire leaf | Palm-shaped, i.e., with lobes or leaflets stemming from the leaf base.[4] |
 | palmately lobed | palmatus | entire leaf | Lobes spread radially from a point. [5] |
 | palmatifid | palma + findere | entire leaf | Palm-shaped, having lobes with incisions that extend less than half-way toward the petiole. |
 | palmatipartite | palma + partiri | entire leaf | Having lobes with incisions that extend over half-way toward the petiole. |
 | palmatisect | palma + secare | entire leaf | Having lobes with incisions that extend almost up, but not quite to the petiole. |
 | pandurate | panduratus | entire leaf | Fiddle-shaped; obovate with a constriction near the middle. |
 | pedate | pedatus | entire leaf | Palmate, with cleft lobes.[6] |
 | peltate | peltatus | stem attachment | A round leaf where the petiole attaches near the center. An example would be a lotus leaf. |
 | perfoliate | perfoliatus | stem attachment | With the leaf blade surrounding the stem such that the stem appears to pass through the leaf. |
 | perforate | perforatus | leaf surface features | Many holes, or perforations on leaf surface. Compare with fenestrate. |
 | pinnately lobed | pinna + lobus | entire leaf | Having lobes pinnately arranged on the central axis. |
 | pinnatifid | pinna + findere | entire leaf | Having lobes with incisions that extend less than half-way toward the midrib. |
 | pinnatipartite | pinnatus + partiri | entire leaf | Having lobes with incisions that extend more than half-way toward the midrib. |
 | pinnatisect | pinnatus + sectus | entire leaf | Having lobes with incisions that extend almost, or up to midrib. |
 | plicate | plicatus | 3-d shape | Folded into pleats, usually lengthwise, serving the function of stiffening a large leaf. |
 | reniform | reniformis | entire leaf | Shaped like a kidney: an oval with an inward curve on one side. |
 | retuse | leaf tip | With a shallow notch in a round apex. | |
 | rhomboid or rhombic | rhomboidalis | entire leaf | Diamond-shaped. |
 | rounded | rotundifolius | leaf tip or base | Circular, no distinct point. |
| semiterete | 3-d shape | Rounded on one side, but flat on the other. | ||
 | sinuate | sinuatus | 3-d shape | Circularly-lobed kind of leaves |
 | sagittate | sagittatus | entire leaf | Arrowhead-shaped with the lower lobes folded, or curled downward |
 | spatulate | spathulatus | entire leaf | Spoon-shaped; having a broad flat end which tapers to the base |
| spear-shaped | hastatus | entire leaf | see hastate. |
 | subobtuse | subobtusus | leaf tip or base | Somewhat blunted, neither blunt nor sharp |
 | subulate | subulatus | leaf tip | Awl-shaped with a tapering point |
 | terete | 3-d shape | Circular in cross-section; more or less cylindrical without grooves or ridges. | |
 | trullate | entire leaf | Shaped like a bricklayer's trowel | |
 | truncate | truncatus | leaf tip or base | With a squared-off end |
| undulate | undulatus | 3-d shape | Wave-like | |
 | unifoliate | unifoliatus | compound leaves | With a single leaflet. It is distinct from a simple leaf by the presence of two abcission layers and often by petiolules and stipels |
Edge
Leaf margins (edges) are frequently used in visual plant identification because they are usually consistent within a species or group of species, and are an easy characteristic to observe. Edge and margin are interchangeable in the sense that they both refer to the outside perimeter of a leaf.
| Image | Term | Latin adjective | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | entire | Forma integra | Even; with a smooth margin; without toothing |
 | ciliate | ciliatus | Fringed with hairs |
 | crenate | crenatus | Wavy-toothed; dentate with rounded teeth |
| crenulate | crenulate | Finely crenate | |
| crisped | crispus | curly | |
 | dentate | dentatus | Toothed. May be coarsely dentate, having large teeth, or glandular dentate, having teeth which bear glands |
 | denticulate | denticulatus | Finely toothed |
 | doubly serrate | duplicato-dentatus | Each tooth bearing smaller teeth |
 | serrate | serratus | Saw-toothed; with asymmetrical teeth pointing forward |
 | serrulate | serrulatus | Finely serrate |
 | sinuate | sinuosus | With deep, wave-like indentations; coarsely crenate |
 | lobate | lobatus | Indented, with the indentations not reaching the center |
| lobulate | lobulatus | With small lobes | |
 | undulate | undulatus | With a wavy edge, shallower than sinuate |
 | spiny or pungent | spiculatus | With stiff, sharp points such as thistles |
Leaf folding
Leaves may also be folded or rolled in various ways. If the leaves are initially folded in the bud, but later unrolls is its called vernation, ptyxis is the folding of an individual leaf in a bud.
| Image | Term | Latin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
carinate or keeled | carinatus | with a longitudinal ridge | |
| conduplicate | folded upwards, with the surfaces close to parallel | ||
 | cucullate | forming a hood, margins and tip curved downward | |
 | involute | rolled upwards (towards the adaxial surface) | |
 | plicate | plicatus | with parallel folds |
| reduplicate | folded downwards, with the surfaces close to parallel | ||
 | revolute | rolled downwards (towards the abaxial surface) | |
| supervolute | opposing left and right halves of lamina folded along longitudinal axis, with one half rolled completely within the other |
Latin descriptions
The Latin word for 'leaf', folium, is neuter. In descriptions of a single leaf, the neuter singular ending of the adjective is used, e.g. folium lanceolatum 'lanceolate leaf', folium lineare 'linear leaf'. In descriptions of multiple leaves, the neuter plural is used, e.g. folia linearia 'linear leaves'. Descriptions commonly refer to the plant using the ablative singular or plural, e.g. foliis ovatis 'with ovate leaves'.[7]
See also
- Glossary of botanical terms
- Glossary of plant morphology
Cladophylls are leaf-like petioles- Leaf size
- Sinus
Leaflet (botany) and Rachis
Petiole (botany) and Plant stem
Phylloclades are flattened stems that resemble leaves- Pinnation
- Plant morphology
- Taxonomy (biology)
References
^ Radford, A. E., W. C. Dickison, J. R. Massey, C. R. Bell (1976), "Phytography - Morphological Evidence", Vascular Plant Systematics, Harper and Row, New YorkCS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link).mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Also used to describe compound leaves with finger-like leaflets.
^ Mucronate, Answers.com, from Roget's Thesaurus.
^ "palmate (adj. palmately)". GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms.
^ "Leaf description glossary". www.cs.rochester.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
^ "Pedate leaf". Retrieved February 24, 2014.
^ Stearn (2004), pp. 439–440.
Bibliography
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Stearn, W.T. (2004). Botanical Latin (4th (p/b) ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-7153-1643-6.
"Leaves"., in Massey & Murphy (1996)
"Shapes"., in Massey & Murphy (1996)
Massey, Jimmy R.; Murphy, James C. (1996). "Vascular plant systematics". NC Botnet. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
External links
- The Description of Leaves, University of Rochester
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
- Vplants
- Botany 115
- The seed site
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Leaf margins. |
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Leaf diagrams. |
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