Botany/Leaves (forms)

<< Contents Page | << Chapter 3 | Leaves (forms) Chapter 3. Plant Cells and TissuesLeaves (forms) Leaf Shapes, Margins, Apices, and Bases Simple, Angiosperm Leaves This page presents the terminology used to describe the shapes and forms of leaves. The following examples are all simple leaves. All are from flowering plants (angiosperms). Descriptive terms are given for the lamina shape (that is, its overall shape in outline), the lamina margin, the form or shape of both the apex (tip) and the base (lamina junction with petiole) of the leaf, and (in some cases) other qualities evident in the example picture presented. alt text1. Chamaesyce celastroides(EUPHORBIACEAE) 1. 'Akoko SHAPE: oblong to elliptic MARGIN: entire TIP: retuse BASE: roundedalt text3. Ageratina riparia (ASTERACEAE) 2. Mist flower SHAPE: rhombic MARGIN: serrate TIP: attenuate BASE: cuneatealt text2. indet.(?LAMIACEAE) 3. indet. SHAPE: ovate MARGIN: crenate TIP: acute BASE: ~ rounded OTHER: color bright greenalt text4. Ficus religiosa(MORACEAE) 4. Bo tree SHAPE: cordate MARGIN: entire, slightly undulate TIP: caudate BASE: cordatealt textMacadamia sp.(PROTEACEAE) 5. Macadamia nut SHAPE: linear MARGIN: undulate and spinose TIP: (not visible) acute200 px|alt textRichardia brasiliensis(RUBIACEAE) SHAPE: MARGIN: lobes ciliate TIP: acutealt text (CYPERACEAE) SHAPE: linear MARGIN: entire TIP: acutealt textCoronopus didymus(BRASSICACEAE) SHAPE: oblong in outline, deeply pinnatifid MARGIN: lobes dentate TIP: (not visible) acutealt textAmmania auriculata(LYTHRACEAE) SHAPE: linear MARGIN: entire TIP: acutealt textMyriophyllum aquaticum(HALORAGACEAE) SHAPE: pinnatifid, segments capillary MARGIN: N/A TIP: N/A BASE: N/A OTHER: leaves whorledalt textBrachiaria mutica(POACEAE) SHAPE: linear MARGIN: entire TIP: acute OTHER: Base sheathing Compound, Angiosperm Leaves These examples are all compound leaves. In these leaves, it is not always very instructive to describe the "leaf outline" and better to describe the number (or range) of leaflets. If the number is odd, there will be an unpaired leaflet at the tip. The shape terminology can be applied to the individual leaflets. alt textCanavalia sericea(FABACEAE) Silky jackbean SHAPE: orbicular to elliptic MARGIN: entire TIP: obtuse BASE: obtusealt textToona ciliata(MELIACEAE) Australian redcedar SHAPE: lanceolate to elliptic MARGIN: entire TIP: cuspidate BASE: oblique Links Botanical Terms