Diversifoliate

/daɪˌvɜːrsɪˈfoʊlieɪt/ adjective

Definition

Botanical term describing plants that have leaves of different shapes, sizes, or types on the same plant.

Etymology

From Latin 'diversi-' (different) + 'foliate' (from 'folium' meaning leaf). This technical term classifies leaf variation within a single plant.

Kelly Says

Juvenile trees are often diversifoliate—the young leaves look completely different from adult leaves, a phenomenon that confused early botanists who thought they were different species!

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