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palmately compound leaf

plant anatomy

Quick Summary

A palmately compound leaf is a type of leaf where the blade is divided into two or more distinct leaflets that radiate from a single point at the end of the petiole. This arrangement is in contrast to pinnately compound leaves, where leaflets are arranged along an extension of the petiole called a rachis. In palmately compound leaves, the leaflets spread out like the fingers of a hand. This leaf structure is found in various plant species, including some palms, where the leaf blade can be either pinnate or palmate in form.123

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