bladje

Bladje is a Dutch noun meaning either a small leaf or a small sheet of paper. It is the diminutive form of blad, which can refer to a leaf or a page. The term is common in everyday language and appears in botanical writing to describe small leaves or leaflets.

In botany, bladje refers to a leaf that is relatively small or to an individual leaflet in a compound leaf. In a compound leaf, several bladjes are attached to a central rachis, while a single undivided leaf is typically called a blad in more formal terms. The leaf blade, or lamina, carries out photosynthesis and contains tissues such as the epidermis, mesophyll, veins, and stomata that regulate gas exchange and water loss. Leaves vary in size, shape, edge, and venation, adaptations that reflect species and habitat.

Beyond botany, bladje is also used to denote a small sheet of paper or a note, such as a tiny page, card, or slip of paper. The meaning depends on context; in horticultural or botanical contexts it is a technical term for a leaf or leaflet, while in everyday language it more often refers to a small sheet or card.