Leaf Venation

Leaf veins carry water from the twigs to all the cells in the leaf. The center vein is called the midvein. The pattern of the secondary veins can be very useful.

	Dogwoods can be distinguished as a group by their distinct arcuate vein pattern. Veins arch out from the midvein and then parallel the leaf edge.
	This pawpaw leaf has apparent pinnate venation. The veins branch from the midvein and parallel each other to the leaf edge.
	(The third type of leaf venation is palmate venation - the main veins radiate from a central point. We have already split these out based on other characteristics)