What is leaf venation in plants?

Leaf venation is the arrangement or pattern of veins present on the surface of a leaf. These veins form a network that helps in the movement of water, minerals, and prepared food within different parts of the leaf.

There are mainly two types of leaf venation: reticulate venation and parallel venation. In reticulate venation, veins form a web-like pattern, while in parallel venation, veins run side by side in the same direction.

Different plants show different venation patterns. For example, hibiscus and rose leaves usually have reticulate venation, whereas grass and maize leaves have parallel venation.

Observing leaf venation helps in identifying plant groups and understanding the similarities and differences among various plants found in nature.