Leaf Morphology
Leaf Shapes
Circular
(Orbicular)
Blunt tip
(Obtuse)
Oval
(Elliptic)
Egg - wide at base
(Ovate)
Egg - point at base
(Obovate)
Squared off
(Truncate)
Heart - stem in point
(Obcordate)
Heart - stem in cleft
(Cordate)
Triangle
(Deltoid)
Diamond
(Rhomboid)
Basal Lobes
(Hastate)
Pointed with barbed base
(Spear)
Kidney
(Reniform)
Fan
(Flabellate)
Spoon
(Spatulate)
Wedge
(Cuneate)
Sickle
(Falcate)
Spine like tip
(Aristate)
Tapered to point
(Acuminate)
Pointed both ends
(Lanceolate)
Elongated
(Linear)
Awl
(Subulate)
Needle
(Acicular)
Deep opposite lobes
(Pinnatisect)
Hand
(Palmate)
Deeply indented
(Lobed)
Finger-like lobes
(Digitate)
Divided lateral lobes
(Pedate)
Stem in centre of round leaf
(Peltate)
Leaf Cross Section
Flat
Convex
Concave
Folded
Boat
Involute
Elliptical
Cylindrical
Leaf Arrangements
Single leaf
(Unifoliate)
One-one
(Alternate)
Stem piercing leaf
(Perfoliate)
Sets of rings
(Whorled)
Tight rings
(Spiral / Rosette)
From ground
(Basal)
Pairs
(Opposite)
Opposite - odd end
(Odd Pinnate)
Opposite - even end
(Even Pinnate)
Multiple Pairs
(Bipinnate)
Three leaves
(Trifoliate)
Multiple Trifoliates
(Tripinnate)
Leaf Margins
Smooth
(Entire)
Fine Hairs
(Ciliate)
Rounded teeth
(Crenate)
'Symmetrical teeth
(Dentate)
Fine Symmetrical teeth
(Denticulate)
Sharp stiff points
(Spiny)
Forward Pointing teeth
(Serrate)
Fine Serated teeth
(Serrulate)
Sub-teeth Serrated
(Doubly Serrate)
Wave-like indentations
(Sinuate)
Wide Waves
(Undulate)
Indented Waves
(Lobate)
Leaf Veins
Parallel
Mostly along axis (Longitudinal)
Paired opposite (Pinnate)
Bending towards apex (Arcuate)
Diverging from a point (Palmate)
Veins radiating from centre (Rotate)
Branching symmetrically in pairs (Dichotomous)
Small veins connecting large (Cross-Venulate)
Network (Reticulate)