1. the condition or quality of having leaves of different shapes, sizes, or forms on the same plant or individual.
Usage: botanical term; also called heterophylly or leaf dimorphism

Examples

• The ivy plant displays heterophylly, with juvenile leaves differing greatly from its mature foliage.
• Heterophylly is common in aquatic plants, which produce different leaf forms above and below water.
• Botanists study heterophylly to understand how plants adapt to varying environmental conditions.
• The sycamore tree exhibits heterophylly in its seedling stage compared to its adult leaves.
• This species shows remarkable heterophylly, with lobed leaves near the base and simple leaves at the top.