Types of Tree Leaves and How to Identify Them?

The Leaves of the Trees as well as their bark and size allow us to distinguish them from each other. Each leaf of a tree has its peculiar characteristic, it could be said that they are the fingerprint of these enormous plants. In this article we show you everything you need to know about these silent workers.

tree leaves

Thanks to the leaves of the trees you can obtain a vital element for life, such as oxygen. Hence their great work, they are in charge of fixing carbon dioxide during the photosynthetic process to help purify the air and provide oxygen for life. They not only work to achieve an ideal environment, but they are the way to keep the plant alive, because through the leaves and its photosynthesis process it can grow and breathe.

Parts of Tree Leaves

Each tree has its own fingerprint represented by its leaves, which have unique characteristics in each species. For this reason it is necessary to know in principle the parts that make up the leaves of trees and thus be able to understand their classification.

the petiole

It refers to the base that joins the branch with the stem of the plant or leaf base. It is a thin cylindrical structure that can sometimes be tiny or not at all.

Stipules

This is formed on each side of the foliar base of a vascular plant, that is, they have a sap transport system, these can vary in shape and size, there is usually one on each leaf and its function is to protect the foliar primordium and when it has reached its development it tends to disappear.

Limbo

Also called a lamina, it refers to the flat part, in which the upper face of the face is called the beam, which appears darker in color and the lower underside, which becomes lighter in color. The classification according to the edge of the blade is: smooth or entire, lobed, toothed, cleft, split or serrated.

Apex

This is the name given to the upper end of the leaf, that is, the opposite of the base. It is not always well defined as this will depend on the shape of the leaf.

Rib

It refers to all the nerves found in the leaf, through this vascular network the sap circulates and in this way communicates with the rest of the plant.

Axillary bud

The axillary bud is the point of cohesion between the leaf and the stem and it specializes in creating shoots that can reproduce or simply remain dormant.

Classification of Tree Leaves

The leaves of trees are going to be determined by the environment in which it is found and hence the shape that its leaf takes to achieve a better adaptation. Here we show how the different types of leaves are grouped:

By the way
- Simple: it is the one where a single leaf is born on each petiole, that is, a single leaf.
- Compound: is one in which several articulated leaves called leaflets are formed.
by the rib
- Uninervias: they are those that have a single central nerve. They are very common in trees such as pines
- Plurinervias: unlike the previous one, this one has a branching of nerves.

Names of Tree Leaves

Tree leaves are classified according to their shape, edge, veins, and presentation. Here it is intended to make known each characteristic that helps you to locate each sheet according to its appearance.

Due to the shape of the blade

In this categorization you will find the different shapes that can be presented in the leaves of trees, taking into account that it refers to the flattened part that fulfills the function of photosynthesis. Each form is described below:

Ensiform: It is when the blade is sword-shaped and ends in a point.
acicular: It is needle-shaped, long and sharp, ending in a well-defined apex.
Filiform: It is a very thin and fine sheet similar to a thread.
Linear: The blade is very narrow and thin with parallel edges.
Oblanceolate: This type of blade is arrow-shaped or oval.
Oblong: Oval in shape, it is longer than it is wide.
Oval: It has an elliptical shape.
Rhomboid: This type of sheet has the characteristics of a rhombus.
ovate: It has the shape of an egg, its base is wider and ends in a well-defined apex.
Obovate: Contrary to the ovate, this one ends with a wide apex.
Corda: This sheet is presented in the shape of a heart.
Obcorded: Its shape is of an inverted heart.
Deltoid: It looks like a Greek letter, wide at the base and a fine apex
Orbicular: It is presented in a rounded shape.
reniform: It resembles the shape of a kidney.
Spatulate: This leaf has a peculiar spatula shape, thin towards the base and wide at the apex.
Flabellate: It is presented in the form of a fan.
Panduriform: The shape of this leaf is wide at the base and expands towards the apex, resembling a guitar.
lyre: This type of leaf is broad at the base, narrows in the center, and expands towards the apex.
runcinated: This type of leaf is divided into deep lobes and arched towards the base, with the upper edge of the same convex and the lower one straight.
Updated: It is a pointed leaf that has two divergent lobes at the base.
Sagittate: It looks like an arrow and at the base it has two acute lobes.

By the shape of the apex

The apex represents the terminal of each leaf, that is, the tip that is furthest from the base. He lets us know the condition of the plant. Apical deaths are related to the weather, problems with the root of the tree, excessive use of fertilizers, pollution, among other elements. Here we present the classification of the apex according to its shape:

Acuminate: It is when the terminal of the blade is a well-defined point
Acute: The terminal of the blade appears as an acute angle.
sharply acuminate: It is when the blade is elliptical and ends abruptly in a fine point.
Apiculate: This shape can be described as the apex delicately forming into a fine point.
Caudate: It is presented in an elongated shape like a tail.
Cuspidated: It is more delicate than the sharply acuminate, as the apex is formed into a fine point.
Mucronate: The apex is shaped like an apiculate, that is, an almost imperceptible point.
Mucronulate: It is an apiculate but smaller still.
Obtuse: The lamina is elliptical in shape and the apex is in the form of an obtuse angle.
Rounded: The apex of the leaf is completely rounded.
Truncated: When it is presented almost straight, as if it had been cut.
Retuse: The blade appears semi straight or notched with a very slight apex.
emarginated: The leaf has a small opening at the apex, but very light.

Because of the shape of the base

The base of tree leaves is that enlarged portion that joins the petiole with the stem. In some cases certain appendages of various shapes are found. The base is classified according to its shape as follows:

Acute: When the base of the leaf next to the petiole forms an acute angle.
Obtusa: The base of the blade forms an obtuse angle.
Acuminate: This base starts out as a perfect triangle.
dimmed: The blade decreases in width until it reaches the petiole.
Cuneate: In this the sides of the blade go straight to the petiole.
Roped: It is when the blade forms a kind of heart towards the petiole.
reniform: It is very similar to the chordate, but less pronounced becoming more kidney-like.
Updated: It is when two divergent lobes are formed at the base.
Sagittate: It is similar to the hastada but its lobes are not so divergent.
Auricular: Two small, less pronounced lobes are formed at the base of the leaf.
rounded: The lamina joins the petiole in a rounded way.
Truncated: The lamina joins the petiole almost straight.
Unequal: The junction of the lamina to the petiole is uneven but rounded.
Oblique: In this case the lamina joins the petiole with an irregular shape.

Along the edge of the sheet

The margin or also known as the blade, represents the shape or appearance of the leaf blade, which makes each species of tree leaves unique and recognizable. The most common are:

Whole: In this case there is no element that makes the sheet different, since it is presented smoothly.
serrulated: It has closely followed beaks of tiny size resembling a serrated knife.
Sawn: It presents a kind of not very pronounced peaks.
Double Sawn: It is very similar to sawn but the peaks are more pronounced and there is a cavity between them.
Crenate: It is very similar to sawing but not in the form of a peak but in a slightly wavy way.
Lobed or Lobed: It has the shape of well-pronounced lobes, concavities outwards and convexities inwards.
Sinuous or scalloped: Margin attachment points form notch and concavities.
Curly: It presents outward concavities and inward convexities, but in a very sublime way.
Subsection: It gives the impression of being eaten away by its irregular shape.
erosive: It is like the wavy shape but these waves are presented irregularly.
Toothed or prickly: It has the shape of the serrated margin but more spiny this in order to protect the plant from herbivorous animals.

Tree Leaves according to the type of tree

The leaves of trees will also be conditioned by the climate, geographical location and condition of the plant. Trees can be divided into three large groups: evergreen, ornamental and fruit trees.

evergreen tree leaves: This type of leaves remain attached to the plant throughout the year, an example of this is the olive tree, which has a leaf that remains attached to the branch for a long period of time.
Ornamental Tree Leaves: These trees are among the group of deciduous leaves because they have leaves with a certain period of time to be attached to the branches, mainly conditioned by the climate factor. They are characterized by their color, size and shapes. The leaves vary in color until they detach from the branch.
fruit tree leaves: These trees are found mostly with evergreen type leaves.