venação

Venation refers to the arrangement of veins in a leaf or wing. In botany, leaf venation describes the pattern in which the veins are distributed throughout the leaf blade. This pattern can be a significant characteristic for plant identification and classification. Common types of leaf venation include parallel venation, where veins run parallel to each other along the length of the leaf, typical of monocots like grasses; pinnate venation, where a central midrib gives rise to smaller lateral veins, resembling a feather; and palmate venation, where several main veins radiate from a single point at the base of the leaf, like the fingers of a hand.

In entomology, wing venation refers to the pattern of veins in insect wings. These veins provide structural support to the wing membrane and house tracheae, nerves, and hemolymph. The arrangement and number of these veins are highly specific to different insect orders and families, serving as crucial features for taxonomic identification. Scientists study wing venation patterns to understand insect evolution and relationships. The study and classification of venation patterns is known as 'venation'.