Leaves

Science the Montessori Way

By: Kelli Dantin

Wall Chart

Wall Chart

Wall Chart

Booklet: Leaf Shapes

Acicular

A simple leaf shaped like a needle. Often times they are several times longer than wide and end sharply at the apex.

Acuminate

A simple leaf that is classified by the shape of the apex. It narrows or tapers to a short point at the apex.

Alternate

A leaf characterization dictated by the position on the stem. In this case, leaves grow one per node at different levels of the stem.

4-part Cards: Leaf Shapes

Acicular

A simple leaf shaped like a needle. Often times they are several times longer than wide and end sharply at the apex.

Acuminate

A simple leaf that is classified by the shape of the apex. It narrows or tapers to a short point at the apex.

Alternate

A leaf characterization dictated by the position on the stem. In this case, leaves grow one per node at different levels of the stem.

Aristate

A simple leaf characterized by an apex having a ratio greater than 3:1 that is usually prolonged, straight and stiff.

Cordate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the base of the leaf. It is a heart shaped leaf in which the petiole attaches to the cleft.

Bi-pinnate

Pinnately compound leaves in which the leaflets are pinnately compound. They often have a feathery appearance.

Cuneate

A simple leaf characterized by the base of the leaf. It is wedge shaped with an base that forms a point.

Aristate

A simple leaf characterized by an apex having a ratio greater than 3:1 that is usually prolonged, straight and stiff.

Cordate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the base of the leaf. It is a heart shaped leaf in which the petiole attaches to the cleft.

Bi-pinnate

Pinnately compound leaves in which the leaflets are pinnately compound. They often have a feathery appearance.

Cuneate

A simple leaf characterized by the base of the leaf. It is wedge shaped with an base that forms a point.

Deltoid

A simple leaf that is triangular shaped leaf with petiole attached to a side.

Elliptic

A simple leaf that is elliptical in shape, normally twice as long as it is thick. Its apex has a very short to non-existent point.

Digitate

A compound leaf characterized by the position of the leaflets, which are arranged in the shape of a hand.

Even Pinnate

A compound leaf with leaflets forming two rows (pinnate) that is distinguished by two leaflets at the tip.

Deltoid

A simple leaf that is triangular shaped leaf with petiole attached to a side.

Elliptic

A simple leaf that is elliptical in shape, normally twice as long as it is thick. Its apex has a very short to non-existent point.

Digitate

A compound leaf characterized by the position of the leaflets, which are arranged in the shape of a hand.

Even Pinnate

A compound leaf with leaflets forming two rows (pinnate) that is distinguished by two leaflets at the tip.

Falcate

A simple leaf that is hooked or sickle shaped. It has one convex and one concave margin.

Hastate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin. It is shaped like a spear-head. It has long, narrow margins with flaring basal lobes that point outwards.

Flabellate

A simple leaf with a semicircular or fan shape.

Lanceolate

A simple leaf characterized based on the shape of the base and apex, both of which taper to a point. Named for its lance-head shape.

Falcate

A simple leaf that is hooked or sickle shaped. It has one convex and one concave margin.

Hastate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin. It is shaped like a spear-head. It has long, narrow margins with flaring basal lobes that point outwards.

Flabellate

A simple leaf with a semicircular or fan shape.

Lanceolate

A simple leaf characterized based on the shape of the base and apex, both of which taper to a point. Named for its lance-head shape.

Linear

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margins. They are long and narrow with the two sides being parallel.

Obcordate

A simple leaf characterized by the apex shape and the base. It is heart shaped with a cleft apex and pointed base.

Lobed

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margins, which are severely indented, but not to the point that the indention reaches the center of the leaf.

Obovate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margin. It gets its name from its egg shape. The apex is the larger rounder portion, while the base is smaller and pointer.

Linear

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margins. They are long and narrow with the two sides being parallel.

Obcordate

A simple leaf characterized by the apex shape and the base. It is heart shaped with a cleft apex and pointed base.

Lobed

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margins, which are severely indented, but not to the point that the indention reaches the center of the leaf.

Obovate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margin. It gets its name from its egg shape. The apex is the larger rounder portion, while the base is smaller and pointer.

Obtuse

A simple leaf that is characterized based on the shape of the apex of the leaf, which is rounded or blunt.

Opposite

A leaf characterization dictated by the position on the stem. In this case two leaves are paired and connect at each node, opposite each other.

Odd Pinnate

A compound leaf named for the arrangement of its leaflets on there petiole. The leaflets are pinnate with one leaflet at the tip.

Orbiculate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margin. It gets its name from its circular or nearly circular shape.

Obtuse

A simple leaf that is characterized based on the shape of the apex of the leaf, which is rounded or blunt.

Opposite

A leaf characterization dictated by the position on the stem. In this case two leaves are paired and connect at each node, opposite each other.

Odd Pinnate

A compound leaf named for the arrangement of its leaflets on there petiole. The leaflets are pinnate with one leaflet at the tip.

Orbiculate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margin. It gets its name from its circular or nearly circular shape.

Ovate

A simple leaf characterized by shape of the margin, which is egg shaped. It is narrower at the apex and broader at the base.

Pedate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin. It has palmately divided lobes with lateral lobes that are cleft or divided.

Palmate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margins, which are shaped like the hand with the fingers extended. The lobes radiate from a single point.

Peltate

A simple leaf characterized by the flat circular blade attached to the stem at the center of the blade rather than at the edge of the margin.

Ovate

A simple leaf characterized by shape of the margin, which is egg shaped. It is narrower at the apex and broader at the base.

Pedate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin. It has palmately divided lobes with lateral lobes that are cleft or divided.

Palmate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the leaf margins, which are shaped like the hand with the fingers extended. The lobes radiate from a single point.

Peltate

A simple leaf characterized by the flat circular blade attached to the stem at the center of the blade rather than at the edge of the margin.

Perfoliate

A simple leaf that is characterized by stem location, in which the leaf appears to be pierced by the stem.

Reniform

A simple leaf characterized by its kidney shape.

Pinnatisect

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin, which is lobed deeply in a pinnate pattern, although it does not actually form separate leaflets.

Rhomboid

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin, which has a rhombus or diamond shape.

Perfoliate

A simple leaf that is characterized by stem location, in which the leaf appears to be pierced by the stem.

Reniform

A simple leaf characterized by its kidney shape.

Pinnatisect

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin, which is lobed deeply in a pinnate pattern, although it does not actually form separate leaflets.

Rhomboid

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the margin, which has a rhombus or diamond shape.

Rossete

A compound leaf characterized by leaflets that grow in crowded circles from a common center or crown.

Spearshaped

A simple leaf, which has a spear shaped blade. The apex is pointed, while the base has barbed lobes.

Spatulate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the blade, which is spatula shaped. The blade has a broad rounded apex and narrow base.

Subulate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the blade. It has a long slender blade, which is tapers to a point at the apex.

Rossete

A compound leaf characterized by leaflets that grow in crowded circles from a common center or crown.

Spearshaped

A simple leaf, which has a spear shaped blade. The apex is pointed, while the base has barbed lobes.

Spatulate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the blade, which is spatula shaped. The blade has a broad rounded apex and narrow base.

Subulate

A simple leaf characterized by the shape of the blade. It has a long slender blade, which is tapers to a point at the apex.

Trifolate

A compound leaf characterized by the existence of three leaflets.

Truncate

A simple leaf that is characterized by a base which appears to terminate abruptly.

Tripinnate

A compound leaf in which the pinnate divisions are further divided into three pinnate sets of leaflets.

Whorled

A compound leaf in which there are three or more leaves at each node in a circular pattern around the stem.

Trifolate

A compound leaf characterized by the existence of three leaflets.

Truncate

A simple leaf that is characterized by a base which appears to terminate abruptly.

Tripinnate

A compound leaf in which the pinnate divisions are further divided into three pinnate sets of leaflets.

Whorled

A compound leaf in which there are three or more leaves at each node in a circular pattern around the stem.

Booklet: Leaf Margins

Margins

The border of a leaf.

Crenate

A leaf having a border or edge that is scalloped, a series of curved projections.

Ciliate

A leaf having a border or edge with hair like projections.

Dentate

A leaf with a border or edge having “tooth-like” projections.

4-part Cards: Leaf Margins

Margins

The border of a leaf.

Crenate

A leaf having a border or edge that is scalloped, a series of curved projections.

Ciliate

A leaf having a border or edge with hair like projections.

Dentate

A leaf with a border or edge having “tooth-like” projections.

Denticulate

A leaf having a finely toothed margin.

Entire

A leaf having a border or edge which is smooth having no notches or indentations.

Doubly Serrate

A leaf having a border or edge having smaller serratures upon larger ones.

Lobate

A leaf having a border or edge which is lobed, or having large rounded projections.

Denticulate

A leaf having a finely toothed margin.

Entire

A leaf having a border or edge which is smooth having no notches or indentations.

Doubly Serrate

A leaf having a border or edge having smaller serratures upon larger ones.

Lobate

A leaf having a border or edge which is lobed, or having large rounded projections.

Serrate

A leaf having an edge or border notched like a saw with teeth like projections pointing toward the apex.

Sinute

A leaf having an edge or border having a wavy indention.

Serrulate

A leaf having an edge or border that is minutely serrate.

Spiny

A leaf having an edge or border having spine or thorn projections.

Serrate

A leaf having an edge or border notched like a saw with teeth like projections pointing toward the apex.

Sinute

A leaf having an edge or border having a wavy indention.

Serrulate

A leaf having an edge or border that is minutely serrate.

Spiny

A leaf having an edge or border having spine or thorn projections.

Booklet Cards: Leaf Venation

Undulated

A leaf having an edge or border having a smooth wavy outline.

Arcuate

A leaf having veins which are curved.

Venation

The shape, or arrangement, of the veins of a leaf.

Cross Venulate

A leaf having small veins connecting secondary veins.

4-part Cards: Leaf Venation

Undulated

A leaf having an edge or border having a smooth wavy outline.

Arcuate

A leaf having veins which are curved.

Venation

The shape, or arrangement, of the veins of a leaf.

Cross Venulate

A leaf having small veins connecting secondary veins.

Dichotomous

A leaf having veins which branch symmetrically in pairs.

Palmate

A leaf having several primary veins radiating from a point.

Longitudinal

A leaf having veins aligned mostly along the long axis of the leaf.

Parallel

A leaf having veins arranged axially not intersecting.

Dichotomous

A leaf having veins which branch symmetrically in pairs.

Palmate

A leaf having several primary veins radiating from a point.

Longitudinal

A leaf having veins aligned mostly along the long axis of the leaf.

Parallel

A leaf having veins arranged axially not intersecting.

Pinnate

A leaf having secondary veins paired oppositely.

Rotate

Veins radiating in peltate leaves.

Reticulate

A leaf having smaller veins forming an network.

Label

Definition

Pinnate

A leaf having secondary veins paired oppositely.

Rotate

Veins radiating in peltate leaves.

Reticulate

A leaf having smaller veins forming an network.

Label

Definition