A leaf with a single, undivided blade attached to the stem by a petiole, regardless of how deeply the margin may be lobed or divided. The blade remains as one continuous piece of tissue.
From Latin 'simplex' meaning 'single' or 'uncomplicated' combined with 'leaf.' The term became standard in botanical classification during the development of systematic botany in the 18th century.
Don't let the name fool you - simple leaves can look incredibly complex with deep lobes and intricate shapes! The key is that no matter how fancy they look, you can't separate the blade into distinct pieces without tearing the tissue.
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