Leaf Arrangement

One of the first characteristics I look at when identifying a plant is how the leaves are arranged on the stem. Leaf arrangement can help you narrow down the family that the plant might be part of, which makes it easier to identify the plant. While there are several different leaf arrangements, three are the most common. The first leaf arrangement is an alternate arrangement where the leaves alternate down the stem, so only one leaf is attached at every node. This leaf arrangement is the most common in the plant world. The second most common is the opposite leaf arrangement, where the leaves are in pairs along the stem, similar to rungs on a ladder. There are far fewer plants that have an opposite leaf arrangement. The third most common leaf arrangement is the whorled leaf arrangement, where three or more leaves are grouped at each node, all around the stem. While some rare plants can have multiple leaf arrangements on the same plant, most plants will only have one. (Node- Area of the stem where buds are located, an area where growth appears at the base of a leaf).

 

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu