veepinnal

Veepinnal is a botanical term used to describe a leaf venation pattern in which a central axis gives rise to multiple orders of veins in a pinnate arrangement, creating a dense, featherlike network that extends toward the leaf margins.

The term is formed from vein (from Latin vena) and pinnal (from pinnatus) and has appeared in contemporary discussions of leaf architecture as a descriptive descriptor rather than a taxonomic category. It is not yet a formal, widely adopted term in major floras.

Veepinnal leaves typically show a regular, featherlike arrangement with secondary veins arising obliquely from the main axis and forking toward the margin. The venation can be two- or multi-order pinnate, producing a pronounced reticulate network, especially in larger leaves or in species with specific ecological adaptations.

In research, veepinnal is used descriptively or in theoretical models of vein hydraulics and mechanical support. In horticulture and education, it serves as a qualitative descriptor of leaf architecture rather than a diagnostic feature.

See also: pinnate venation, reticulate venation, leaf morphology.