SpineLeaf

Spineleaf is an informal term used in botany and horticulture to describe plant taxa or plant parts that feature spiny or sharply edged leaves. It is not a formal taxonomic name, and there is no consensus on its precise meaning across sources. The term may appear in garden catalogs, cultivation notes, or botanical descriptions to convey the appearance or adaptation of a plant rather than to designate a distinct lineage.

Morphologically, spines can derive from leaf tissue, stipules, or shoot tips, and they function mainly as a defense against herbivores and, in arid climates, as a means of reducing water loss by shading or reducing surface area. When a plant has leaves that are greatly reduced or modified into sharp projections, writers may describe them as “spineleaf” forms, though this usage is descriptive rather than diagnostic.

Because “spineleaf” is informal, its exact meaning varies by author. It is sometimes applied to succulent or xerophytic plants with spiny leaf margins or to species where the leaves are small and spine-bearing. It is not a synonym for a specific genus or species, and readers should consult primary sources for precise identifications.

See also: leaf morphology, spinescence, succulents, cacti.