pinnate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having leaflets, lobes, veins, or branches arranged in two rows along a central axis

   The ash tree has pinnate leaves with paired leaflets along each stalk.

2. 2
   adj

   resembling a feather in form or arrangement

   The fossil preserved a delicate pinnate structure around its stem.

From Latin pinnatus ("feathered, winged"), from pinna ("feather, wing"). Botany extended the feather image to leaves and other structures whose parts are set along both sides of a common axis.

Topics