Skip to main content

Simple Leaf

/SIM-pul LEEF/
🍃 Leaf Shapes Basic

Also known as: undivided leaf

A leaf consisting of one continuous blade, which may be entire (smooth-edged), lobed, or toothed but is not separated into distinct leaflets. Simple leaves are the most common leaf type and are found in maples, oaks (lobed), elms, and many other plants. They are distinguished from compound leaves, which have blades divided into separate leaflets.

Etymology

Latin simplex (single, plain) + leaf from Old English lēaf

Example

Maple leaves are simple leaves, deeply lobed but with a single continuous blade.