Leaf Types
The two basic leaf types include simple and compound leaves.
Compound leaves
Simple leaves
Entire
Lobed
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Ternate
Pinnate
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Biternate
Palmate
Bipinnate
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Fascicle
Tripinnate
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Leaf Types
Entire
Entire leaves consist of a petiole
and leaf blade (lamina) without
any lobes or leaflets.
Blade
Petiole
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Leaf Types
Lobed
A lobed leaf has the leaf blade (lamina) with rounded or pointed lobes
separated by a sinuses. Lobes may be deep or shallow depending on the depth
of the sinuses.
Sinus
Shallow lobes
and sinuses
Lobes
Blade
Pinnatisect
Deep lobes
and sinuses
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Palmately
lobed
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Petiole
Pinnatifid
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Leaf Types
Ternate (Trifoliate)
In a ternate or trifoliate
leaf, three leaflets arise
from a central location at the
petiole.
Leaflets
Petiole
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Leaf Types
Biternate
1
A biternate leaf is doubly
ternate.
2
The leaf divided into three sets
of trifoliates each with their
own three leaflets.
1
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3
2
2
3
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Leaflets
1
3
Petiole
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Leaf Types
Palmate
In a plamate leaf, the leaflets arise from a single location at the petiole.
Leaflet number can vary between 5 and 9.
Leaflets
Petiole
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Leaf Types
Pinnate
Pinnate leaflets arise individually from a central rachis. An odd pinnate leaf
(imparipinnate) has an unequal number of leaflets with the odd leaflet at the
terminal. Even pinnate leaves (paripinnate) have an equal number of leaflets.
Odd
Pinnate
Even
Pinnate
Terminal
leaflet
Rachis
Leaflet
Petiolule
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Petiole
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Leaf Types
Bipinnate
A bipinnate leaf is a twice
branched pinnate leaf.
There is a central rachis
the branches to form
rachilla (subbranches)
where each leaflet arises.
Rachis
Rachilla
Leaflets
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Petiole
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Leaf Types
Tripinnate
In a tripinnate leaf, the pinnate
leaf is divided three times.
Rachilla
Rachis
Petiolule
Leaflet
Petiole
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Leaf Types
Fascicle
In pines, leaves are usually
produced in bundles (fascicles)
of 2, 3, or 5.
Leaves
Five needle fascicle
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