Pinnate: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

In biology, pinnate is a term used to describe feather-like or many-divided features arise from both sides of a common axis in plants or animals. From the Latin word pinna (feather), the word is in many cases synonymous with the term pectinate.

Botanically, the term describes once-divided leaves comprising leaflets that are arranged on both sides of a petiole, a feature displayed by many palms (notable the feather palms) and most cycads. Pinnate plants are sometimes known as "feather-leaved". Some species of fern also sport pinnate fronds, although others can be bipinnate, tripinnate or simple.

The leaflets that comprise a pinnate (or bipannate) leaf are known as pinnae or pinnules.

See also: paripinnate, imparipinnate, bipinnate, tripinnate, palmate, costapalmate, simple

The fish Platax pinnatus is known as the pinnate spadefish or pinnate batfish.