Leaf Shapes List From 2-pinnate To Whorled




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Botanical name English name Description
2
Bipinnate 2-pinnate
L_bipinnate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 Along each side of the main midrib of the leaves there are other midribs each with leaflets (pinna) either side of this second midrib.

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Distichous 2-Rows
L_distichousa This Refers To the
Leaf array		 The leaves are arranged in two vertical rows on opposite sides of an axis or midrib of the leaf, like the Yew tree leaves.

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3
Trifoliolate 3-Palmate
L_trifoliolate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 The plant with these leaves have three leaves growing from the same point.

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Tripinnate 3-pinnate
L_tripinnate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 These compound leaves are pinnately divided three times before the leaflets (pinna) appear.

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A
Alternate Alternate
L_alternate This Refers To the
Leaf array		 Leaves occurring or following in turn each succeeding the other on either side of the stem.

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Sagittate Arrow-shaped
L_sagittate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having the shape of an arrowhead without flaring base lobes.

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Hastate Arrowhead-shaped
L_hastate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having the shape of an arrowhead but with the basal lobes pointed and flaring outwards at the base.

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Divergent Atypical
L_divergentb This Refers To the
Leaf base		 A base with short straight-sided lobes diverging outwards.

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B
Zonal Banded
L_zonal This Refers To the
Leaf colours		 The leaves colouring has definate areas of different colours or shading.

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Truncate Blunt
L_truncatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The end of the leaves appear blunt or truncated.

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Truncate Blunt
L_truncateb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 The leaf base appear to end abruptly with each side at 90 degrees to the midrib.

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Oblanceolate Blunt Lance-shape
L_oblanceolate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Lance-shaped but broadest above the middle and tapering toward the base.

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Obtuse Blunted
L_obtuselt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaf tip is blunted with an angle greater then 90 degrees.

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Retuse Blunted
L_retuselt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaf tip s are blunted and obtuse with a small notch in the middle.

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Aristate Bristle
L_aristatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaf has a well developed bristle or stiff awns.

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C
Amplexicaul Clasping
L_amplexicaulat This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 The leaves seems to clasp the stems of the plant.

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Pinnatifid Cleaved
L_pinnatifid This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The leaves are split or lobed halfway to the midrib in a feather-like manner.

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Ciliate Comb-like
L_ciliate This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 having a margin or fringe of small hairlike projections.

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Pectinate Comb-like
L_pectinate This Refers To the
Leaf array		 The leaves resembles the tooth of a comb like some conifers.

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Decussate Crossed
L_decussatea This Refers To the
Leaf array		 The leaves are arranged in pairs that cross at 90 degrees.

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Sinuate Curve
L_sinuatem This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The leaves have a wavy and indented margin.

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D
Rhomboidal Diamond shaped
L_rhomboidal This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The leaves are in the shape of a rhombus or a skewed parrellelogram.

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E
Obovate Egg-shaped
L_obovate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Larger at leaf tip than base. Egg-shaped and flat, with the narrow end attached to the stalk.

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Ovate Egg-shaped
L_ovate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 a leaf shape that is egg-shaped with the broader end at the base. Broad and rounded at the base and tapering toward the tip.

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Elliptic Elliptical
L_elliptic This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having the shape of an ellipse.

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F
Flabellate Fan shaped
L_flabellate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The leaf leaflets are aranged in a fan shape.

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Pinna Feather
L_pinna This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 The individual leaf of a compound pinnate leaf. The leaflet on either side of the midrib of a pinnate compound leaf.

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Pinnatisect Feather cut
L_pinnatisect This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The leaves are lobed or cut almost to the midrib.

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Pinnately Lobed Feather-like
L_pinnately_lobed This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The leaves are lobed with three or more lobes arranged like a pinnate leaf, but with the lobing not reaching the midrib.

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Pinnate Feathered
L_pinnatev This Refers To the
Venation		 The venation arise from the midrib like a feather.

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Pinnate Feathered
L_pinnate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 A compound leaf with leaflets on either side of the midrib like a feather.

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Paripinnate Feathered
L_paripinnate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 The leaves are pinnate with even numbers of leaflets on each side of the midrib. i.e. without a single leaflet at the apex or terminal.

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Serrulate Fine Saw Tooth
L_serrulate This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The leaves margin are like the tooth of a fine saw tooth.

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Digitate Fingered
L_palmate2 This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 The leaf is divided into 3 or more fingers which emanate from the same point on the petiole.

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Quinate Five Leaved
L_palmate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 The leaves are digitally lobed with each of its five lobes arising from a common point. Like the palm of the hand.

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Plicate folded
L_parallelv This Refers To the
Leaf surface		 Of leaves folded multiple time lengthwise into parallel ridges, like a fan; corrugated like the pleats of cloth.

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H
Palmately lobed Hand like
L_palmately_lobed This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The leaves are lobed and look like the palm of the hand. They can be three or more lobes toeach leaf.

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Cordate Heart -shape
L_cordate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having a heart-shaped outline.

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Cordate Heart Shape
L_cordateb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 The bases of these leaves are cleft and rounded like in a heart shape.

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I
Obcordate Inverse heart shape
L_obocordate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The leaves have the point of attachment at the apex of the heart shape.

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Obcordate Inverted Heart
L_obcordatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaves have the point of attachment at the apex of the heart shape. The leaf tips are therefore cleft like a heart shape.

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K
Reniform Kidney shape
L_reniform This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The leaves are in the shape of a kidney or bean.

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L
Lanceolate Lance-shaped
L_lanceolate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Tapering from a rounded base toward an apex like a lance.

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Lateral Lateral
L_lateralven This Refers To the
Venation		 The veins are arranged away from the midrib of the leaf.

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Lobed Lobed
L_lobedm This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The leaves have deeply indented margins, but with lobes not entirely separate from each other and does not reach more than halfway to the midrib.

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N
Narrowly Cuneate Narrow Wedge Shape
L_narrowly_cuneateb This Refers To the
Leaf base		 A narrow base with straight or convex margins that form an angle of less than 45 degrees.

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Acicular Needle-like
L_acicular This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Narrow long and pointed as in pine leaves.

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Sessile None
L_sessilea This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 The leaves are attached to the stem without a petiole.

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Emarginate Notched
L_emarginatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaves have a shallow notch at the tip.

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O
Oblong Oblong
L_oblong This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides. A square, circular, rectangle, ellipse, or spherical form by being elongated in one direction.

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Unifoliolate One Leaf
L_unifoliolate This Refers To the
Leaf		 The leaf is undivided and monophyllous.

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Opposite Opposite
L_opposite This Refers To the
Leaf array		 The leaves are arranged on the stem in pairs opposite each other on either side of the stem.

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Oval Oval
L_oval This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 An elliptical or egg-shaped form or figure.

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P
Palmate Palm
L_palmate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 The leaves are digitally lobed with each lobe arising from a common point. Like the palm of the hand.

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Palmate Palm
L_palmatev This Refers To the
Venation		 The venation start from a common point like the palm of the hand.

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Parallel Parallel
L_parallelv This Refers To the
Venation		 The venation run parallel along the length of the leaf as in most monocotlydon plants.

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Cuspidate Pointed
L_cuspidatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaf tips terminate in a point.

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Laciniate Pointed lobes
L_laciniate This Refers To the
Leaf margin		 The leaf margin appear to be slashed into narrow pointed lobes

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Spinose Prickly
L_spinosem This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The leaves have many spines like the leaves of some Holly.

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Decurrent Prolonged
L_decurrentat This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 The leaves of these leaves extends down and almost wrap around the stem of the plant.

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R
Lacerate Ragged
L_laceratelm This Refers To the
Leaf margin		 The leaf margins appear to be repeatedly sliced with a sharp scissors.

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Crenulate Ripple-like
L_crenulatem This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 Having a margin with tiny, low, rounded teeth.

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Involute Rolled
L_involutelm This Refers To the
Leaf margin		 The edges of the leaves are rolled inwards on top of the leaf blade. In a similar way to revolute.

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Revolute Rolled
L_revolutelm This Refers To the
Leaf margin		 The leaf margins are rolled up under the leaf blade. In a similar way to involute.

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Rosette Rose-like
L_rosettela This Refers To the
Leaf array		 A circular cluster of leaves that radiate from a center at or close to the ground.

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Orbicular Rounded
L_orbicular This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The shape of the leaves are Circular and flat.

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Orbicular Rounded
L_orbicularb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 The leaf base is rounded or circular.

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S
Serrate Saw Tooth
L_serrate This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The margins of the leaves or structures are notched like the tooth of a saw.

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Double Serrated Saw toothed
L_double_serrated This Refers To the
Leaf margin		 The margins of the leaves or structures are notched like the tooth of a saw and each notch is further serrated.

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Scale-like Scale-like
L_scale-like This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having leaves that are flattened and closely attached to the stem like the Juniperus chinensis and other connifer trees.

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Scale-like Scale-like
L_scale-likearr This Refers To the
leaf array		 Having leaves that are arranged flattened and closely attached to the stem like the Juniperus chinensis and other connifer trees.

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Crenate Scalloped
L_crenate This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 having a margin with rounded scalloped projections.

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Shallowly lobed Shallowly lobed
L_shallowly_lobed This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 As the name says the leaves are shallowly lobed.

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Mucronate Sharp Spine
L_mucronatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaves end abruptly in a sharp point or spine.

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Incised Sharply cut
L_incised This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 Leaves with sharply and deeply cut edges.

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Acute Sharply pointed
L_acutelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaves ends in a point with an angle less than 90 degrees.

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Acute Sharply pointed
L_acuteb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 The bases ends in a point less than 90 degrees.

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Sheating Shell
L_sheatingla This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 The lower part of the leaf surrounds the stem.

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Peltate Shield-like
L_peltate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having a flat usually circular structure attached to the stalk near the center, rather than at or near the edge. Like the leaf of the Nasturtium.

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Falcate Sickle-shaped
L_falcate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Curved and tapering to a point, sickle-shaped

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Oblique Slanting
L_obliqueb This Refers To the
Leaf bases		 The leaf bases are similar to asymmetrical leaf bases, but with each lobe attached to the mid-vein at different levels.

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Auriculate Small Ear
L_auriculateb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 The bases of these leaves have small ear lobes each side of the petiole.

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Petiolate Small Foot
L_petiolatea This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 The leaves are attached to the stem with a petiole or small stalk.

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Stipulate Small Stalk
L_stipulateat This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 Having stipules at the point of attachment.

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Apiculate Small Tip
L_apiculatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaf tip ends abruptly in a small pointed tip.

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Denticulate Small tooth-like
L_denticulate This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 Finely toothed or notched, minutely dentate edge.

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Spatulate Spatula-like
L_spatulate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 A leaf shape having a broad rounded apex and a narrow base.

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Cleft Split
L_cleftlt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaf tips seems to be split in two

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Cleft Split
L_cleftlm This Refers To the
Leaf margin		 The leaf margin is deeply inscised and the leaf appear to have many lobes.

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Spore Spore
L_spores This Refers To the
Reproduction cells		 The minute, reproductive structure of flowerless plants, such as ferns, fungi, and mosses.

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Linear Straight
L_linear This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Narrow and elongated with nearly parallel margins.

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Ligulate Strap Shaped
L_ligulatea This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 The leaves are attached to the stem like a strap.

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Ligulate Strap-shaped
L_ligulate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Having a belt like shape.

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Ensiform Sword-shape
L_ensiform This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Shaped like a sword, as the leaf of an Iris.

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T
Caudate Tail
L_caudatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaves seems to have a tail

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Subulate Tapering
L_subulate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Narrow and tapering to a point. Like a pointed braddle or awl. Become gradually narrower or thinner toward one end, like an onion leaf.

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Acuminate Tapering Point
L_acuminatelt This Refers To the
Leaf tip		 The leaves are drawn out into a long tapering point.

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Attenuate Tapering Point
L_attenuateb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 Leaves gradually tapering to a point with concave margins that form an angle less than 45 degrees.

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Cirrose Tendril
L_cirroselt This Refers To the
Leaf tips		 The leaves have tendril-like tips or tips that end with a curl. This is the same as cirrhose leaves. alt. CIRROUS

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Lorate Thong
L_lorate This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The leaves are strap shaped like the leaves of Clivia.

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Filiform Thread-like
L_acicular3 This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 The leaves are linear, straight and thread-like.

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Tendril Threadlike
L_tendril This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 A curling, threadlike structure by which a twining plant, such as a grape vine grasps an object or a plant for support

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Perfoliate Through
L_perfoliate This Refers To the
Leaf attachment		 The basal lobes of the leaves are joined so that the stem appears to go straight through the leaf.

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Dentate Toothed
L_dentate This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 Leaf edges with toothlike projections.

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Deltoid Triangular
L_deltoid This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 A triangular leaf shape with a point at the apex.

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U
Entire Undivided
L_entirem This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 Leaves with an undivided margin; smooth margin.

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Imparipinnate Unequally pinnate
L_imparipinnate This Refers To the
Compound leaf		 The leaves are pinnate with a single leaflet at the apex or terminal.

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Asymmetrical Uneven
L_asymmetrical This Refers To the
Leaf shape		 Leaves are not symetricalabout the middle of the leaf from the base to the tip.

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Asymmetrical Uneven
L_asymmetricalb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 The leaves are uneven at the base, like this Begonia leaf.

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W
Undulate Wavy
L_undulatem This Refers To the
Leaf edges		 The edges are wavy up and down.

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Cuneate Wedge shape
L_cuneateb This Refers To the
Leaf Bases		 The bases of these leaves are wedge shaped.

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Whorled Whorled
L_whorled This Refers To the
Leaf array		 Several leaves are arranged in a circular pattern around the same point on the stem.

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