A leaf venation pattern where the major veins run parallel to each other from the base to the tip of the leaf. This pattern is characteristic of monocotyledonous plants like grasses, lilies, and palms.
From Greek 'parallelos' meaning 'side by side' and Latin 'vena' for 'vein.' The term became established in the mid-19th century when botanists recognized venation patterns as key distinguishing features between plant groups.
Parallel venation is actually an engineering marvel! This pattern makes monocot leaves incredibly strong along their length - try tearing a grass blade lengthwise versus across the grain, and you'll feel the difference.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.