Compound leaves: What are, types and examples

The leaves are lateral organs that They are inserted in the knots of the stemthey have a laminar form, they have limited growth and are specialized in the Photosynthesis process. In the botanical description of a sheet these can be classified into different types such as: types of leaves according to their shape, types according to the arrangement of ribs in limbo, according to the division with respect to the margin or the sheet, the surface or texture of the sheet, the insertion of the stem with the sheet, among others.

One of these classifications is associated with the number of sheets, that is, to the laminar portion of the sheet in which you can distinguish an upper and lower face and parts such as an apex or tip, a base in contact with the stem, a margin or edge and ribs. Based on this classification The leaves can be divided into simple and compoundthen we tell you what their differences are.

Difference between simple and compound leaves

The leaves can be classified in different ways such as, according to their number of sheets in simple and compounds.

• Simple leaves: They are those that have a single or entire sheet but these cuts do not form independent pieces. A simple sheet will consist of a leaf base, a petiole (which may be absent and in that case the sheet is senile or sitting) and a sheet or limbo.
• Composite leaves: They are those that have more than one sheet and form independent pieces that are called leaflets. A compound sheet will be formed by the petiole that will connect to the stem with the raquis, a primary raquis (there may be secondary or tertiary raquis depending on how the leaf is), a limbo formed by the different leaflets, petioles (if they existed) holding each of the leaflets.

Here you can discover how to identify trees from the leaves.

Composite leaves can be classified into different types:

Pinnada or Pinaticompost

We call pinnada sheet when the leaflets are inserted on both sides of the raquis or axis. These can also be:

• Paripinnadas: If we find the presence of two leaflets at the rates or axis.
• Odpinnadas: If we find the presence of a leaflet at the apex of the raquis or axis.
• Oppositipinadas: When the leaflets are opposed along the raquis or axis.
• Alternipinnadas: When the leaflets alternate on both sides of the raquis or axis.

Bipinnada or bipinaticompost

We say that a composite sheet is bipinnada when the leaflets are in turn pinnados (they are called folioli), which means that there is a main raishes or axis and two or more secondary raquis where the leaflets are inserted. The leaflets are also known by the name of pineses, therefore a secondary raquis with its pineses constitutes a pinna.

Palmaticompuesto or Digitado

A sheet is classified as palmaticompost when the leaflets are radiated at the end of the petiole. The raquis cannot be observed since it is contracted.

Trifoliated

A leaf is trifolized when, as the name clearly indicates, it presents three leaflets.

We recommend you read this other article about the different types of leaves.

In nature there are various examples of plants that have compound leaves, here we will describe some of them:

Clover

Tréboles are species that have compound leaves, some of them can present 3 leaflets and another 5 or more. Within the species that present 3 leaflets We find:

• White clover (Trifolium reng)
• Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
• White smell clover (Melilotus albus)
• Yellow smell clovers (Melilotus albus and Melilotus officinalis)
• Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
• Lupulina or black honey (Medicago lupulina)

Within the species that present 5 or more leaflets We find:

• Cuernitos clover (Lotus corniculatus)
• Lotus (Lotus Tenuis)
• Vicia (Vicia sp)

Algarrobos

The Algarrobos, trees that belong to the Legume familyThey have compound leaves. For example, the white carob (Prosopis Alba) and the black carob, (Prosopis Nigra), have bipinnate leaves and each of the pinnas contains 25 to 40 leaflets.

Mimosas

Mimosa is a genus of plants corresponding to the legume family that presents a great diversity of species that inhabit both hemispheres. Most of them They have bipinnate leaves. Here are some examples:

• Sensitive (Mimosa Pudica)
• Carpinchera (Mimosa Pigra)
• Mimosa Borealis
• Mimosa Albida
• Sandy mimosa

Legumes

Many edible legumes They have compound leaves. For example:

• Soy (Glycine Max)
• Lentil (Lens culinaris)
• Bean or beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
• Pea (Pisum sativum)
• Haba (Vicia Faba)

Acacias

Acacias constitute a genus of trees that, like all examples mentioned above, are part of the Legume family and have compound leaves. Among them we find:

• Australian acacia (Acacia Dealbata)
• Black Acacia of Tasmania (ACACIA MELANOXYLON)
• Acacia Trianervis (Acacia Longifolia)

The world of plants is very numerous and diverse, so we invite you to continue discovering what other examples of plants with compound leaves exist. Now that you have discovered what the composite leaves, their types and examples are, we advise you to read this other article about the parts of a sheet and its functions.

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