noun
- The condition or quality of having leaves of different shapes, sizes, or forms on the same plant or stem.
Usage: botanical term; plural of heterophylly
Examples
- The ivy plant displays heterophyllies, with juvenile leaves differing markedly from mature leaves.
- Botanists study heterophyllies to understand how plants adapt their leaf morphology.
- Many aquatic plants exhibit heterophyllies, producing different leaf forms above and below water.
- The heterophyllies observed in this species suggest an evolutionary adaptation to varying light conditions.