Illustrated Plant Structures
Leaf Shapes
terete subulate linear lanceolate oblanceolate elliptic oblong spatulate ovate
obovate rhomboid deltoid orbicular hastate sagittate reniform
Leaf Margins
entire dentate denticulate serrate serrulate crenate lacerate sinuate lobed undulate revolute
Leaf Bases
cuneate acute rounded truncate cordate oblique
stem-clasping hastate sagittate peltate perfoliate attenuate
University of Florida 1 © 2012 plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education Leaf Tips
acuminate acute rounded truncate obtuse emarginate obcordate cuspidate mucronate
Leaf Attachments
peltate petiolate (stalked) sessile clasping sheath
Leaf Arrangements compound leaf (see more below)
simple leaf (one blade)
opposite alternate alternate spiral whorled rosette palmate (3+ leaves at node) (leaves radiate from center close to ground)
Compound Leaves pinnules (sublea et) plural = pinnae
rachis
pinna stem (lea et)
trifoliate even pinnate odd pinnate bipinnate digitate palmate
Habit
ascending erect sprawling climbing creeping University of Florida 2 © 2012 Flower Parts
petal stigma perianth pistil sepal ovary style anther stamen pistil
stamen petal corolla = sepal perianth all petals combined calyx = all sepals combined ovules bird’s eye view cross section
Stems tip (apex) stipule bud culm
stem margin blade midrib vein node node (above ground) axil internode blade (leaf) sheath axillary bud stalk (petiole) node (below ground) dicot monocot rhizome stolon
Roots
primary
tap secondary
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 3 © 2012 Habit
ascending erect
sprawling
climbing creeping
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 4 © 2012 Leaf Shapes
terete subulate linear lanceolate oblanceolate elliptic oblong spatulate
ovate obovate rhomboid deltoid orbicular hastate sagittate reniform
Leaf Margins
entire dentate denticulate serrate serrulate crenate
lacerate sinuate lobed undulate revolute
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 5 © 2012 Leaf Tips
acuminate acute rounded
obcordate cuspidate mucronate
truncate obtuse emarginate
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 6 © 2012 Leaf Attachments
clasping peltate petiolate (stalked)
sheath sessile
Leaf Bases
cuneate acute rounded truncate (squared)
cordate oblique stem-clasping hastate
sagittate peltate perfoliate attenuate
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 7 © 2012 Leaf Arrangements
simple leaf (one blade)
opposite alternate alternate spiral
compound leaf (see compound leaves page for more)
whorled palmate (3+ leaves at node) rosette (leaves radiate from center close to ground)
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 8 © 2012 Compound Leaves
rachis
stem
trifoliate even pinnate odd pinnate
pinnules (sublea et)
plural = pinnae pinna (lea et)
bipinnate digitate palmate
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 9 © 2012 Roots
bulblet bulb brous
corm eshy
primary
tubers tap secondary
University of Florida 10 © 2012 plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education Stems
tip (apex) stipule bud culm
stem margin blade midrib vein node node axil internode blade (leaf) sheath axillary bud stalk (petiole) node
dicot monocot
(above ground)
(below ground) rhizome stolon
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 11 © 2012 Flower Parts
bird’s eye view
petal perianth sepal
pistil stamen corolla = all petals combined calyx = all sepals combined
cross section
stigma pistil ovary style anther stamen
petal sepal perianth
ovules
University of Florida plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education 12 © 2012