What is the Difference Between Pinnate and Palmate

The main difference between pinnate and palmate is that pinnate leaves resemble a feather, containing rows of smaller sub-leaves above the axil whereas palmate leaves contain three or more lobes or veins arising from a common point. 

Pinnate and palmate are two types of compound leaves which help in the identification of different genera. Furthermore, pinnate leaves consist of twig-connected petioles of varying lengths while the lobes of the palmate leaves originate from one point at the end of the petiole. 

Key Areas Covered 

1. What is Pinnate
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
2. What is Palmate
     – Definition, Characteristics, Examples
3. What are the Similarities Between Pinnate and Palmate
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Pinnate and Palmate
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms 

Compound Leaves, Leaflets, Palmate, Petioles, Pinnate

What is Pinnate 

Pinnate leaves are a type of compound leaves with leaflets, which form rows along either side of the midrib known as the rachis. Moreover, the attachment of each leaflet to the midrib occurs through a petiole. Some examples of pinnate leaves are the leaves of walnut, pecan, ash tree, neem, etc.

Figure 1: Pinnate frond of Fern

Furthermore, pinnate leaves can become further compound by branching off secondary rachis to form new leaflets known as the pinna. Here, the pinnule refers to the primary leaflets. Thus, this branching off of the pinnate leaves forms subsets known as bipinnate and tripinnate leaves. 

What is Palmate 

Palmate leaves are another type of compound leaves with leaflets originated from one point. These leaflets from lobes and each palmate compound leaf may contain two or more lobes. All lobes branch off from the axil. Furthermore, palmate leaves do not form a rachis but, directly branch out from the petiole.

Figure 2: Palmate Leaves of Hibiscus 

Moreover, some examples of palmate compound leaves are poison ivy, buckeye, horse chestnut, etc.  

Similarities Between Pinnate and Palmate 

• Pinnate and palmate are two types of compound leaves, containing leaf blades with two or more sub-units. 
• Leaflets refer to each sub-units of the leaf. 
• Moreover, leaflets may attach to the same stalk or petiole. 
• Generally, compound leaves are classified based on the origination of the leaflets. 

Difference Between Pinnate and Palmate 

Definition 

Pinnate refers to a condition of compound leaves with twig-connected petioles of varying lengths and rows of smaller sub-leaves above the axil while palmate refers to a condition of compound leaves, having leaflets form and radiate from a single point of attachment called the distal end of the petiole or rachis. Thus, this explains the basic difference between pinnate and palmate.

The occurrence of the Petiole 

Moreover, pinnate leaves consist of twig-connected petioles of varying lengths while the lobes of the palmate leaves originate from one point at the end of the petiole. 

Arrangement of Leaves 

Above all, the arrangement of leaves is the main difference between pinnate and palmate. That is; the pinnate leaves resemble a feather, containing rows of smaller sub-leaves above the axil, whereas palmate leaves contain three or more lobes or veins arising from a common point.  

Arrangement of Veins 

Furthermore, pinnate leaves contain branching veins from the midrib while palmate leaves contain veins radiating from a single point. 

Examples 

For example, neem has pinnate leaves while the leaves of silk and cotton are the examples of palmate leaves. 

Conclusion 

In brief, the pinnate leaves are a type of compound leaves with variable sizes of petioles connected to the axil. Thus, they contain small sub-leaves along the axil, resembling a feather. On the other hand, palmate leaves are another type of compound leaves with two or more lobes of leaflets arranging at a particular point on the petiole. Therefore, the main difference between pinnate and palmate is the type of arrangement of leaflets. 

References:

1. Nix, Steve. “Compound Leaves: Palmate, Pinnate, and Bipinnate.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 23 May 2019, Available Here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Fern frond pinnate” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2. “Hibiscus mutabilis 5” By Dalgial – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia