Glossary of leaf morphology

Leaves of most plants include a flat structure called the blade or lamina supported by a network of veins, a petiole and a leaf base; but not all leaves are flat, some are cylindrical. Leaves may be simple, with a single leaf blade, or compound, with several leaflets. Compound leaves may be pinnate with pinnae (leaflets) on both sides of a rachis (axis), or may be palmate with multiple leaflets arising from a single point. Leaf structure is described by several terms that include: but no rachis (or rachillae) == 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. or cilantro) revealing palmate venation in simple leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis == 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. == Leaf folding ==

Leaves may also be folded, sculpted or rolled in various ways. If the leaves are initially folded in the bud, but later unrolls it is called vernation, ptyxis is the folding of an individual leaf in a bud. ==Latin descriptions==

The Latin word for 'leaf', , is neuter. In descriptions of a single leaf, the neuter singular ending of the adjective is used, e.g. 'lanceolate leaf', 'linear leaf'. In descriptions of multiple leaves, the neuter plural is used, e.g. 'linear leaves'. Descriptions commonly refer to the plant using the ablative singular or plural, e.g. 'with ovate leaves'. ==See also==