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Biology - Structure: Leaves

Leaf Types

 

Be aware that variation exists among cultivars and individual plants within the same species.

		lanceolate length greater than width, broadest at the base, narrowing to the apex, lance-shaped Fraxinus pennsylvanica		ovate more or less rounded at both ends and broadest below the middle, egg-shaped Cornus florida
		elliptical ellipse-shaped, narrow at each end, widest at the middle Cotoneaster dammeri		cordate more or less rounded at both ends and broadest below the middle, egg-shaped Cercis canadensis
		elliptical ellipse-shaped, narrow at each end, widest at the middle Nyssa sylvatica		oblong longer than wide, sides parallel, rectangular with rounded corners
		linear parallel sides, long and very narrow Hemerocallis		auriculate having auricle(s) -- ear-shaped lobe(s) at the base of leaves or petals Arabis caucasica
		obovate inversely ovate, broader above the middle than below Myrica pensylvanica		oblanceolate inversely lanceolate, broader above the middle and tapering to the base Ilex glabra
		spatulate oblong with the basal end narrowed and the apical end rounded, spoon-shaped Myrica pensylvanica		needle slender leaf of many conifers Pinus sylvestris
		palmately lobed three or more lobes radiating fan-like from a common base Acer saccharum		pinnately lobed segments or lobes along each side of a common axis Quercus palustris
		scale-like small appressed leaf or bract Juniperus		awl-like tapering from the base to a sharp point Juniperus

		simple not compound, not divided into secondary units Cercis canadensis			pinnately compound compound leaf with the leaflets arranged on both sides of the rachis or axis bract Fraxinus americana
		palmately compound three or more leaflets radiating fan-like from a common basal point of attachment Aesculus hipocastanum		bipinnately compound twice pinnate, the primary leaflets are divided into secondary leaflets, also written 2-pinnate Gleditsia triacanthos