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Types of Leaf Margin

The leaf margin, or edge, is an important feature that aids botanists in the identification of plant species around the world. Leaves can have entire, toothed, lobed or parted margins. Botanists also classify plants by the shape, size and arrangement of their leaves, and the structure of the leaf veins.

Entire
- As its name suggests, an entire leaf margin is smooth along its entire edge, without serrations or teeth. These margins are common in many plants, from hardwood trees to food crops. Plants with an entire leaf margin include honeysuckle (Lonicera implexa), the common beech (Fagus silvatica), sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) and all citrus and Eucalyptus trees.
Toothed
- Toothed or serrated leaf margins can vary in the size, sharpness and shape of the teeth. Leaf margins with round teeth are also called crenate. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), common hops (Humulus lupulus), American hazelnut (Corylus Americana), camellia (Camellia sinensis), sugarcane (Saccharum), birch (Betula pendula), rose (Rosa sp.), spearmint (Mentha spicata), and white ash (Fraxinus Americana) are some plants with a toothed leaf margin.
Lobed
- Some plant species have leaves with lobed edges. These indentations can vary in shape, as well as in depth. Many salad leaves have lobed margins, including rocket (Eruca sativa) and some types of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Trees with this type of leaf include oaks (Quercus), maples (Acer) and fig trees (Ficus carica).
Parted
- Leaves with parted margins are similar to lobed leaves, but have deeper indentations. Examples of this type of leaf margin are found in several species of the genus Monstera (which includes such ornamental plants as the Mexican breadfruit); the evergreen shrub Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica); and some buttercup species, such as Ranunculus occidentalis.

Nature