Difference Between Simple Leaf and Compound Leaf

Both plants and animals are equally important parts of the ecosystem to maintain the balance of the earth. Plants, though, have a major impact on the atmosphere as well as on other living beings. Every part of a plant such as leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruits play an essential role in the ecosystem. Thus, it is worthwhile for you to gather in-depth knowledge about plants.

In the following content, the discussion will be on one of the most important topics regarding a significant part of plants called leaves. We will also be discussing its types and the difference between simple leaves and compound leaves. Before differentiating simple and compound leaves, it is important to know about both types of leaves thoroughly.

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Leaves

Leaves are commonly known as the ‘kitchen’ of plants. It is called so because the leaves perform photosynthesis which in turn provides food and energy to survive for the entire plant body. Moreover, leaves are also used as the reservoirs of plants as it stores water and food.

Leaves are made of leaf blades or lamina, stipule, and petiole. However, depending on the different environmental conditions, they can modify the structure to adapt as per the environment. Different types of plants have various shapes, colours, arrangements, sizes, and patterns of leaves. Due to this wide range of varieties, leaves can be categorized into two types - simple leaves and compound leaves.

1. Simple Leaf

A single leaf that can not be divided into any smaller unit or leaflet is called a simple leaf. This type of leaf joins the stem through the petiole without further subdivision in them. True leaves are directly connected to the tree bud. Example: Pear, Maple, Hibiscus, Mango, Guava, Oregano, Black oak, etc. 

Structure of Simple Leaves :

Mainly, simple leaves have four parts. They are-

• Leaf Base

Leaf base is the expanded area where the stem and leaf connect.

• Stipules

Depending on the species of the plant, the position of the stipule changes. However, in major cases, these small bud-like structures are situated near the leaf base.

• Petiole

The petiole is the part that attaches leaves to the stems. Plants can have short, long, or no petioles. 

• Lamina or Leaf Blade

The green expanded part of a leaf is called lamina or leaf blade. This part consists of mesophyll that helps in performing photosynthesis.

2. Compound Leaf

The leaf blades of compound leaves are divided into several smaller leaflets that connect the stem via petiole. Moreover, the leaf blades also divide completely along the mid-vein. The stem with such an arrangement of leaves is known as rachis, the modified version of mid-vein.

Example: Neem, Rose, Desert cotton, Horse chestnut, Buckeye, Baobab, Poison ivy, etc.

Types of Compound Leaves

Broadly, compound leaves are classified into two types- pinnately compound leaves and palmately compound leaves.

• Pinnately Compound Leaf

Pinnation means the formation of leaflets by dividing a leaf. This pinnate arrangement of leaflets can be evenly or oddly paired. 

The leaflet arrangement in even-pinnate is cross-placed, and the rachis sprouts with two leaflets termed as paripinnate. Example: Tamarind, Candle bush, mahogany.

But the leaflet arrangement in odd-pinnate is opposite with the rachis sprouts with one leaflet, termed as imparipinnate. Example: Rose, Pecans, Acacia, etc.

The three major types of Pinnately Compound leaves are-

1. Unipinnate Leaves

Unipinnate leaves have a regular leaflet arrangement on the rachis. Example: Azadirachta indica.

2. Bipinnate 

Other than the primary axis or rachis, bipinnate leaves have a secondary axis or rachis with leaflet arrangements. Example: Honeylocust, Mimosa pudica.

3. Tripinnate

When bipinnate leaves replace the unipinnate leaves, they are called tripinnate leaves. Example: Moringa oleifera.

• Palmately Compound Leaf

In palmately compound leaves, the leaflets grow from a single point of the petiole. As the leaflet arrangement looks like the fingers of palm, it is called palmate. Quadrifoliate, trifoliate, bifoliate, and unifoliate palmately arrangements can be seen in compound leaves. Example: Clover, Chestnut, Citrus Limon, Buckeye, Citrus maxima, etc.

Difference between Simple and Compound Leaves

Vedantu on Questions related to Simple and Compound Leaves

Generally, questions related to differentiating between two concepts are asked in the examinations. These questions are often easy and straightforward and hence the students should surely answer them. Vedantu guides the students to approach these questions. Two columns should be made and in the first row, write the two topics between which you are differentiating, just like the table given above. Now students should write details in the second row of the first column. After this, they should fill the second row of the second column but make sure that the details  should be in the same row clearly containing the difference between the two concepts or topics. At the end make sure to add examples. 

Students should add points as per the marks awarded by the question. As a thumb rule, if a question is asked for 3 marks, 6 points including the examples should be given i.e simply add the points double to the marks being awarded. Students are advised to keep visiting Vedantu for more such tips and tricks. This will make sure that they are constructing their answers correctly during the examinations. Vedantu advises the students to keep practising such questions.