Introduction

Venation, in botany, refers to the pattern of veins found on the leaves of a plant. Most leaves have one or more veins running through their surface that transport water and nutrients. There are two common types of venation in plant leaves: parallel venation and reticulate venation.

parallel venation

Parallel venation refers to leaves that have long, straight veins that run parallel to each other. These veins are more common in monocotyledonous plants, such as corn or wheat.

Types of parallel venation

• Uniaxial: the veins run parallel to each other and do not branch.
• Multiaxial: Veins run parallel to each other but branch several times.

reticulated venation

Reticulate venation refers to leaves that have smaller, branching veins that form a network pattern. These veins are more common in dicotyledonous plants, such as fruit trees or legumes.

Types of reticulated venation

• Pinnate: the main veins extend from the base of the leaf to the tip, and the secondary veins branch parallel but connecting with the main veins.
• Palmate: Several main veins extend from the base of the leaf, like fingers on a hand. The secondary veins branch in the same way as the pinnate venation.
• Divergent: several primary veins extend from the base of the leaf but diverge quickly, secondary veins branching perpendicular to them.

Conclusion

Venation is an important attribute of plant leaves, and can be a useful tool in the identification of different species. In general, parallel venation is more common in monocot plants and reticulate venation is more common in dicots.

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