Different types of leaves

The dicotyledonous leaf

A typical leaf of a dicotyledonous plant consists of two main parts :

the blade

the petiole

The blade is thin and expanded and is supported by a network of veins while the petiole is slender
and connects the leaf to the stem.

The leaf blade

The leaf blade varies greatly in shape and there are numerous terms to describe its general shape.
These terms describe the leaf's
general shape,

apex,

base,

margin,

and veins

The leaf blade has two types of configuration. It may be in one unit, in which case the leaf is called
a simple leaf, or it may be divided into numerous small parts that look like individual leaves and
which form a compound leaf. It may be difficult to tell whether one is looking at a simple leaf or the
leaflet (pinna) of a compound leaf. The
distinction can be made by the fact that a
leaf (simple or compound) has an axial bud
between the petiole and the stem.

The petiole
The petiole of a leaf may vary considerably and can be long, short, rounded or flat. Some leaves
have no petioles in which case they are said to be sessile. At the base of the petiole in many leaves
are small leaf-like structures called stipules e.g. in peas, beans and roses. Between the petiole and
the stem is a bud of a potential branch (an axial bud).
Leaves may be arranged on the stem in a variety of ways. The place on
the stem from where the leaves grow is called a node and the part
between the nodes is the internode. If only one leaf arises at a node
the leaves are said to be alternate, if there are two leaves they
are opposite and if there are more than two they are whorled.

Alternate leaves

Opposite leaves

Leaves in whorls

The monocotyledonous leaf

Some plants and trees are monocotyledonous e.g. bamboo, bananas and palms.

The leaves of these plants do not have petioles like typical

dicotyledonous leaves. Instead, their leaves consist of a sheath and
a blade.
The sheath is often nearly as large as the blade and completely
surrounds the stem, sometimes extending over the length of the
internode.
The leaf blade is characterised by parallel venation . It is often
necessary to examine the blade carefully to see that the veins are
indeed parallel. Take a look at the leaves of bamboo which is related
to grass, both being members of the same plant family, the Poaceae.
Some monocotyledonous plants possess the largest leaves in the plant kingdom. Trees belonging to
the Palm family (the Aracaceae) have very large leaves and the Raffia palm (genus Raphia) has the
largest leaves of all, which can attain a length of 18m. Other examples of large leaves are found in
the Musaceae, the banana family, and the Strelitziaceae, the bird-of-paradise flower family.

Leaves of the gymnosperms

Pines, cedars, spruces and yellowwoods, which belong to the group Coniferophyta or the conifers,
are the largest group of gymnosperms (naked-seeded plants) and have various leaf types. Pine
trees (family Pinaceae) have needle-like leaves which are grouped together in fascicles and grow
from a short branch which grow no longer than one node. The cypresses and junipers (family
Cupressaceae) have very small scale-like leaves which are crowded along the stem. The yellowwoods
(Podocarpaceae) have small narrow leaves which are borne singly. The leaves of the Ginkgo or
Maidenhair tree (the only surviving species of the group Ginkgophyta) are interesting in that they
have dichotomous venation, in other words each vein divides into two near the leaf margin.

A juniper twig covered with A ginkgo leaf showing the

very small scale-like leaves dichotomous venation.