Logo
 Home | Sitemap | Contact us | Search | Language
Left Right
Home >> Biology >> Morphology and Anatomy of Flowering Plants >> Simple and Compound Leaves
Button


Simple and Compound Leaves

A leaf is simple when the lamina may be complete or in used but the incision does not reach the midrib. The leaves in Banyan, Mango, Pipal etc.

In a compound leaf the lamina is divided into a number of leaf-like lobes called leaflets. These leaflets are borne on a common axis and do not bear any axillary buds in their axil. There are two types of compound leaves.

1. Pinnate compound leaves
In these leaves, pinnae are borne on rachis (common axis). The pinnate compound leaves are of following types:

Simple Branch
Simple Branch
A. Axillary Bud
B. Axillary Branch

Simple Leaf-Pinnately Compound Leaf
Simple Leaf-Pinnately Compound Leaf
Palmately Compound leaf
Palmately Compound leaf

(a) Unipinnate
In these leaflets or pinnae are borne directly on rachins. When the number of leaflets is odd, the condition is called Imparipinnate e.g. Rose, Neem. But when the number of pinnae is even the condition is called bipinnate e.g. Cassia fistula, Tamarind etc.

(b) Paripinnate
In these leaves the leaflets are divided to second order and are arranged on secondary axis. These leaflets are known as pinnules. e.g. Acacia, Mimosa etc.

(c) Tripinnate
When leaf is thrice pinnate. Here the secondary axis produce tertiary axis which bear leaflets e.g. Moringa, Horse-radish etc.

Pinnately Compound Leaves Unipinnate
Pinnately Compound Leaves Unipinnate

Pinnately Compound Leaves Bipinnate
Pinnately Compound Leaves Bipinnate
Pinnately Compound Leaves Tripinnate
Pinnately Compound Leaves Tripinnate
Pinnately Compound Leaves Decompound
Pinnately Compound Leaves Decompound


(d) Decompound
When the leaf is more than thrice pinnate it is said to be decompound e.g. Cosmos, Coriander, Carrot. etc.

Palmate Compound Leaves Unifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Unifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Bifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Bifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Trifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Trifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Quadrifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Quadrifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Multifoliate
Palmate Compound Leaves Multifoliate
 

2. Palmate compound leaves
When all the leaves are attached at a common point i.e. the tip of petiole they are known as palmate compound leaves e.g. Bombax, Oxalis, Marsilea etc.

Button
Left Right