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PALMATELY COMPOUND LEAVES
Palmately compound leaves contain multiple leaflets that radiate from a single point at the tip of the leaf stem (petiole), resembling, with some imagination, the fingers of a hand. Palmately compound leaves do not have a rachis (central stalk where leaflets attach on pinnately compound leaves).
Ohio Native Trees with Palmately Compound Leaves
Above and on the left is a leaf of the Ohio Buckeye. The Ohio Buckeye’s leaves comprise of 5-7 oval-shaped leaflets that have finely toothed edges and an unpleasant smell when crushed. They are bright green above and paler underneath, and leaflets taper to a point.
The middle image shows the Bladdernut. Leaflets of the Bladdernut are egg-shaped to oval, are finely serrated, and taper to a point. Key features include a distinct, long stalk for the central (i.e. termina)l leaflet.
The photo on the right is a compound leaf of the Yellow Buckeye. The leaves are large, have 5-7 pointed, toothed leaflets that radiate from a single point. They are darker in color and have a smooth texture, along with a very light underside, all of which distinguish it from the Ohio Buckeye.