The Plantologist
Leaves are essential to the growth and development of trees, providing food and oxygen through photosynthesis. Different tree species have distinct leaf shapes and sizes, and leaves can be classified based on several criteria. Simple leaves have a single blade, while compound leaves have multiple leaflets. Coniferous trees have needle-like or scale-like leaves that help reduce water loss. Leaves can also be categorized by their shape, including entire, lobed, palmate, pinnate, bipinnate, and whorled. The shapes of leaves can vary widely among different tree species, including popular plants like Podocarpus, Xanadu, and Lady Palm.