Types of Leaves

There are two types of leaves - Simple and Compound. Since a leaf bears a bud in its axil, you can recognize a compound leaf from a simple one by locating the axillary bud. A bud is present in the axil of both simple and a compound leaf but not in the axil of leaflets.

Simple Leaf

1. The leaf has a single undivided lamina.
2. If divided, the incisions do not touch the mid rib.

Compound Leaf

1. The lamina is divided into many segments called leaflets.
2. Incisions touch the mid rib.

Types of Compound Leaves

They are of two types:

Pinnate

1. Leaflets are attached to mid rib or rachis and are arranged laterally.
2. Leaflets and mid rib may get further divided to form compound leaves that are unipinnate, bipinnate, tripinnate and decompound.

Palmate

1. Leaflets radiate from the end of petiole like fingers of a palm.
2. Depending upon the number of leaflets compound leaves are bifoliate, trifoliate, quadrifoliate and multifoliate.