Glossary of leaf morphology

The following terms 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

The terms listed here all are supported by technical and professional usage, but they cannot be represented as mandatory or undebatable; readers must use their judgement. Authors often use terms arbitrarily, or coin them to taste, possibly in ignorance of established terms, and it is not always clear whether because of ignorance, or personal preference, or because usages change with time or context, or because of variation between specimens, even specimens from the same plant. For example, whether to call leaves on the same tree "acuminate", "lanceolate", or "linear" could depend on individual judgement, or which part of the tree one collected them from. The same cautions might apply to "caudate", "cuspidate", and "mucronate", or to "crenate", "dentate", and "serrate."

Another problem is to establish definitions that meet all cases or satisfy all authorities and readers. For example, it seems altogether reasonable to define a mucro as "a small sharp point as a continuation of the midrib", but it may not be clear how small is small enough, how sharp is sharp enough, how hard the point must be, and what to call the point when one cannot tell whether the leaf has a midrib at all. Various authors or field workers might come to incompatible conclusions, or might try to compromise by qualifying terms so vaguely that a description of a particular plant practically loses its value.

Use of these terms is not restricted to leaves, but may be applied to morphology of other parts of plants, e.g. bracts, bracteoles, stipules, sepals, petals, carpels or scales. Some of these terms are also used for similar-looking anatomical features on animals.

Leaf structure

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:

Bipinnate leaf anatomy with labels showing alternative usages

A ternate compound leaf with a petiole but no rachis (or rachillae)

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 (Coriandrum sativum, coriander or cilantro)

Partial chlorosis revealing palmate venation in simple leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis

Term	Latin	Refers principally to	Description
acicular	acicularis	whole 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
asymmetrical		whole leaf	With the blade shape different on each side of the midrib
attenuate	attenuatus	leaf base	Having leaf tissue taper down the petiole to a narrow base and 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 stem (in case of a seated leaf)
caudate	caudatus	leaf tip	Tailed at the apex
cirrus, cirrate		leaf tip	Having a rachis that extends beyond the leaf blade or leaflets into a long whip-like extension or cirrus (common in climbing palms); antonym: ecirrate
cordate, cordiform	cordatus	whole leaf or base	Heart-shaped, with the petiole or stem attached to the notch
cuneate	cuneatus	leaf base	Triangular, wedge-shaped, stem attaches to point
cuneiform		whole leaf	Narrowly triangular, widest on the opposite end from the stem, with the corners at that end rounded
cuspidate	cuspidatus	leaf tip	With a sharp, elongated, rigid tip; tipped with a cusp
deltoid, deltate	deltoideus	whole leaf	Shaped like the Greek letter delta; triangular with stem attached to side
digitate	digitatus	whole leaf	A palmately compound leaf with leaflets, similar to palmate[2]
ecirrate		leaf tip	Without a cirrus; antonym: cirrate
elliptic	ellipticus	whole leaf	Shaped like an ellipse (widest at mid-blade and with similar convex tapering towards apex and base), with a short or no point
emarginate	emarginatus	leaf tip	Slightly indented at the tip
ensiform	ensiformis	whole leaf	Shaped like a sword; long and narrow with a sharp pointed tip
falcate	falcatus	whole leaf	Sickle-shaped
fenestrate	fenestratus	leaf surface features	Large openings through the leaf; see perforate; sometimes used to describe leaf epidermal windows
filiform	filiformis	whole leaf	Thread- or filament-shaped
flabellate	flabellatus	whole leaf	Semi-circular or fan-like
hastate	hastatus	whole leaf or base	Spear-shaped: pointed, with barbs, shaped like a spear point, with flaring pointed lobes at the base
laciniate	lacinatus	whole leaf	Very deeply lobed with the lobes being very drawn out and often making the leaf look somewhat like a branch or a pitchfork
laminar		3-D shape	Flat (like most leaves)
lanceolate	lanceolatus	whole leaf	Long, wider in the middle, shaped like a lance tip
linear	linearis	whole leaf	Long and very narrow like a blade of grass
lobed	lobatus	whole leaf	Being divided by clefts; may be pinnately lobed or palmately lobed
lorate	loratus	whole leaf	Having the form of a thong or strap
lyrate	lyratus	whole leaf	Shaped like a lyre, pinnately lobed leaf with an enlarged terminal lobe and smaller lateral lobes. See also List of lyrate plants.
mucronate	mucronatus	leaf tip	Ending abruptly in a small sharp point as a continuation of the midrib[3]
multifid	multi + findere	whole leaf	Cleft into many parts or lobes
obcordate	obcordatus	whole leaf	Heart-shaped, stem attaches at the tapering end
oblanceolate	oblanceolatus	whole 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	whole leaf	Having an elongated form with slightly parallel sides; roughly rectangular
obovate	obovatus	whole leaf	Teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to the tapering end; reversed ovate
obtrullate		whole leaf	Reversed trullate; the longer sides meet at the base rather than the apex.
obtuse	obtusus	leaf tip or base	Blunt, forming an angle > 90°
orbicular	orbicularis	whole leaf	Circular
ovate	ovatus	whole leaf	Egg-shaped, with a tapering point and the widest portion near the petiole
palmate	palmatus	whole leaf	Palm-shaped, i.e. with lobes or leaflets stemming from the leaf base[4]
palmately lobed	palmatus	whole leaf	Lobes spread radially from a point[5]
palmatifid	palma + findere	whole leaf	Palm-shaped, having lobes with incisions that extend less than halfway toward the petiole
palmatipartite	palma + partiri	whole leaf	Having palmate lobes with incisions that extend over halfway toward the petiole
palmatisect	palma + secare	whole leaf	Having palmate lobes with incisions that extend almost up, but not quite to the petiole.
pandurate	panduratus	whole leaf	Fiddle-shaped; obovate with a constriction near the middle.
pedate	pedatus	whole leaf	Palmate, with cleft lobes[6]
peltate	peltatus	stem attachment	A round leaf where the petiole attaches near the center, e.g. 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	whole leaf	Having lobes pinnately arranged on the central axis
pinnatifid	pinna + findere	whole leaf	Having lobes with incisions that extend less than halfway to the midrib
pinnatipartite	pinnatus + partiri	whole leaf	Having lobes with incisions that extend more than halfway to the midrib
pinnatisect	pinnatus + sectus	whole leaf	Having lobes with incisions that extend almost to, or up to, the midrib
plicate	plicatus	3-D shape	Folded into pleats, usually lengthwise, serving the function of stiffening a large leaf
reniform	reniformis	whole leaf	Shaped like a kidney, with an inward curve on one side
retuse		leaf tip	With a shallow notch in a round apex
rhomboid, rhombic	rhomboidalis	whole leaf	Diamond-shaped
rounded	rotundifolius	leaf tip or base	Circular, no distinct point
semiterete		3-D shape	Rounded on one side and flat on the other
sinuate	sinuatus	3-D shape	Circularly-lobed leaves
sagittate	sagittatus	whole leaf	Arrowhead-shaped with the lower lobes folded, or curled downward
spatulate	spathulatus	whole leaf	Spoon-shaped; having a broad flat end which tapers to the base
spear-shaped	hastatus	whole 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		whole leaf	Shaped like a masonry 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 abscission 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.

Term	Latin	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	crenulatus	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
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, 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.

Term	Latin	Description
carinate or keeled	carinatus	With a longitudinal ridge, keel-shaped
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]

References

Radford, A.E.; Dickison, W.C.; Massey, J.R.; Bell, C.R. (1976). "Phytography - Morphological Evidence". Vascular Plant Systematics. Harper and Row, New York.
Index of Garden Plants, Mark Griffiths, Timber Press, 1992
Mucronate Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Answers.com, from Roget's Thesaurus.
"palmate (adj. palmately)". GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms. iVillage GardenWeb. 2006. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
Nelson, Randal C. (2009) [2012]. "Leaf description glossary". University of Rochester. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
"Pedate leaf". Retrieved 24 February 2014.
Stearn (2004), pp. 439–440.

Bibliography

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 Archived 2015-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
The seed site

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[1] Radford, A.E.; Dickison, W.C.; Massey, J.R.; Bell, C.R. (1976). "Phytography - Morphological Evidence". Vascular Plant Systematics. Harper and Row, New York.

[2] Index of Garden Plants, Mark Griffiths, Timber Press, 1992

[3] Mucronate Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Answers.com, from Roget's Thesaurus.

[4] "palmate (adj. palmately)". GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms. iVillage GardenWeb. 2006. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2008.

[5] Nelson, Randal C. (2009) [2012]. "Leaf description glossary". University of Rochester. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[6] "Pedate leaf". Retrieved 24 February 2014.

[FOOTNOTEStearn2004439–440-7] Stearn (2004), pp. 439–440.