Some types of leaves are the preciolates, the sitting, the simple, the compounds, the lanceolate, the elliptical, among others. The leaves are one of the most visible and recognizable parts of plants and, in reality, they are also one of the most important. These are responsible for capturing sunlight and performing photosynthesis that gives energy to the plant, as well as plant breathing also occurs in them.
Due to the high importance they have in most plants, there are a huge variety of classes of leaves and characteristics and there are also many different ways of classifying them. If you want to learn more about Types of leaveskeep reading this interesting Ecology Verde.
Types of leaves according to the petiole
The petiole is the part of the sheet that connects the limbo, which is the wide part that we tend to recognize as the leaf itself, and the stem or the branch. Thus, they can classify the leaves according to the petiole In this way:
- Peciolate leaves: They have a petiole that connects the limbo to the plant. This petiole can have very different sizes according to the specific characteristics of each plant.
- Sésile or sitting leaves: Instead, they have no petiole. In these cases, limbo is born directly from the stem or branch.
However, not all plants have to be exclusively for petiolate or sessile leaves: there are some that have leaves of both types, depending on whether they are leaves in the stem or at the base.
Types of leaves according to the limbo division
As we explain above, The limbo It is the most recognizable part of what we usually call the sheet, the wide and generally smooth area. The way in which limbo is divided or not another type of Classification of the leaves.
- Simple leaves: They have a limbo that is not split at all, or it is, but their divisions do not reach the main nerve.
- Divided or compound leaves: They show a limbo that is completely divided to the main nerve, giving the sensation of several limbos united by a single petiole. Here, you will find more information about the compound leaves: what are, types and examples.
Types of leaves according to their form
Actually, the most correct thing is to say that we classify them according to the morphology or form of limbo, and not of the sheet itself. It is one of the most visual and easy to identify classifications. The Types of leaves according to the form of limbo are the following:
- Elliptical sheet: As the name implies, those whose form traces an ellipsis, that is, an elongated or deformed circumference.
- Lanceolate sheet: They are those whose limbo shows a characteristic form of spearhead or simple arrow tip, with a wider base and a narrow and sharp tip.
- Acicular sheet: The typical needles of most conifers, such as pine, are easy examples to recognize this morphology.
- Oval sheet: They are similar to elliptics, but somewhat wider at the base and with more acute tip.
- Acorazonada: similar to the way we usually represent hearts.
- Sagitada sheet: This characteristic form reminds the tip of an alabarda or a divided arrow, with a central tip and two other open to the sides.
- Linear sheet: These leaves seem tapes, with straight and regular edges that extend. They tend to be narrow and long.
In the image you can see these forms and some more. In addition, we recommend you read this article about the parts of a sheet and its functions.
Types of leaves according to its edge
In addition to the previous classification, the form that the edge of the leaf adopt can also be differentiated. Thus, the Types of leaves according to the edge These are:
- Full sheet: Also called smooth leaves, they are leaves the edge of whose limbo extends in an uninterrupted line and straight or with a constant curve.
- Detailed sheet: In these leaves, the limbo takes shape of saw teeth, which can be very different according to the concrete shape of each species.
- Lobed or lobada leaf: These leaves create very marked irregularities in their contour, with outgoing and entrants of pronounced curved forms.
- Undulating sheet: They have curvatures in their contour, but more and less pronounced than in the lobed, without becoming “arms.”
Types of leaves according to your rib
You can find three Main types of leaves according to your ribdifferentiated in this way:
- Penninervia sheet: They are the leaves that have a main nerve, from which all the secondary nerves leave. It is the typical way that the majority of leaves that are represented.
- Palminervia sheet: His name comes from the palm of his hand because of his similarity with this. From a central point the different nerves come out as if they were the fingers of the hand.
- Parallelling sheet: His nerves extend close to parallelism throughout the entire sheet.
Now, thanks to knowing the different types of leaves, you can also learn how to identify trees and plants from their leaves.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of leaveswe recommend that you enter our biology category.
