Difference Between Parallel Venation and Reticulate Venation

Key Difference

The key difference between parallel venation and reticulate venation is that in parallel venation veins are parallel arranged in a leaf while in reticulate venation veins are in the web like structure.

Parallel Venation vs. Reticulate Venation

A well-developed transport system is a basic need for multicellular organisms. Like other organisms, plants have a transport system in the form of xylem and phloem. Xylem is used to transport water while phloem is used to transport nutrients, sugar or food, etc. throughout the plant body. Xylem and phloem are collectively known as vascular bundles. They also provide support to the plant. Like other parts of the plant, i.e., stem, root, etc. vascular bundles are also present in the leaf. In leaf blade, vascular bundles are present in the form of the vein. A vein is consist of xylem and phloem surrounded by parenchyma and bundle sheath cells. Every species of plant has a specific arrangement of these veins known as venation pattern. Venation pattern plays an important role in recognizing different species of plants. There are two basic types of venation pattern, i.e., parallel venation and reticulate venation. In parallel venation, veins are arranged parallel to each other in leaf blade from base to tip while in reticulate venation, veins are arranged in the form of a network. The main vein that enters into leaf from petiole is known as a primary vein or midrib while the veins that arise as branches from the primary vein are known as secondary veins. Parallel venation is found in monocots while reticulate venation is found in dicots.

Comparison Chart

Parallel Venation	Reticulate Venation
A type of venation pattern of leaf in which veins are arranged parallel to each other from base to tip of the blade is known as parallel venation.	A type of venation pattern of leaf in which veins are arranged in a network or web like a pattern in the blade is known as reticulate venation.
Type of Plants
Parallel venation is found in monocots.	Reticulate venation is found in dicots.
Orientation of Veins
Veins are organized parallel to each other in parallel venation.	Veins produce a web-like structure in reticulate venation.
Types
It is divided into two main types, i.e., pinnate parallel venation and palmate parallel venation.	Reticulate venation is also divided into two main types, i.e. Pinnate reticulate venation and Palmate reticulate venation.
Examples
Banana, grasses and bamboo show parallel venation.	Ficus, Hibiscus and mango show reticulate venation.

What is Parallel Venation?

A type of venation pattern in which veins are arranged parallel to each other from base to tip of the leaf blade is known as parallel venation. It is found in monocots. It is divided into two main types, i.e., pinnate parallel venation and palmate parallel venation.

Pinnate Parallel Venation: In pinnate parallel venation, there is a prominent midrib in the center from which many veins arise perpendicularly and run parallel to each other. E.g., Banana.
Palmate Parallel Venation: In palmate parallel venation, many veins arise from the tip of the petiole and run parallel to each other. It is again separated into two types, i.e., convergent parallel venation and divergent parallel venation. In convergent parallel venation, all the veins running parallel to one another converge at the apex and its example is grass. In divergent parallel venation, the leaf lamina is lobed, so the veins diverge to enter into the separate lobes from the base and its example is Borassus (Palmyra).

What is Reticulate Venation?

A type of venation pattern in which veins are arranged in a network or a web-like a pattern in leaf blade is known as reticulate venation. It is found in dicots. Reticulate venation is also divided into two main types, i.e., pinnate reticulate venation and palmate reticulate venation.

Pinnate Reticulate Venation: In pinnate reticulate venation, only a single midrib is present while all other branchings are forming a network-like structure. It is also called as unicostate reticulate venation. Its example is Mangifera.
Palmate Reticulate Venation: In palmate reticulate venation, many midribs are present and other veins are forming network-like structure. It is also called as multicostate reticulate venation. It is further divided into two types, i.e., convergent reticulate venation and divergent reticulate venation. In convergent reticulate venation, main veins converge towards the apex top of the leaf while in divergent reticulate venation pattern main veins diverge.

Key Differences

A type of venation pattern of leaf in which veins are arranged parallel to each other from base to tip of the blade is known as parallel venation while a type of venation pattern of leaf in which veins are arranged in a network or web like a pattern in the blade is known as reticulate venation.

Parallel venation is found in monocots whereas reticulate venation is found in dicots.

Veins are organized parallel to each other in parallel venation while Veins produce a branched or web-like structure in reticulate venation.

Banana, grasses and bamboo are few examples of parallel venation while ficus, hibiscus and mango are the examples of reticulate venation.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it is concluded that parallel venation and reticulate venation are the venation patterns in leaf. In parallel venation, veins are arranged parallel to each other in leaf blade and it is found in monocots. Reticulate venation has a web-like arrangement of veins and is found in dicots.

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