Key Difference: A leaf is a common organ of any plant. There are two main types of leaves: a simple leaf and a compound leaf. A simple leaf is the standard common leaf that grows on a branch or a stem. A leaflet refers to a small leaf or a leaf-like part of a compound leaf.

A leaf is a common part of any plant. The plant consists of roots, attached to which is the trunk, then the branches, and the stems, at the end of which comes the leaves. They are an organ of that plant. They are often adapted in a way that best suits the plant. Some are flat, whereas some are not, most are often above ground, whereas some like bulb scales are not.

A leaf serves a variety of functions. Firstly, the leaves are where the photosynthesis occurs. Photosynthesis is the process where plants absorb the sunlight and transform it into chemical energy. This chemical energy is then used to fuel its bodily functions.

There are two main types of leaves: a simple leaf and a compound leaf. A simple leaf is the standard common leaf that grows on a branch or a stem. It is just one leaf that may have incisions but these incisions are not deep enough to divide the blade into different parts. The simple leaf often has an axillary bud is present in the axil of the leaf. However, a compound leaf is a leaf that also grows on a branch or a stem, but the blade has incisions that are deep enough to divide the blade into different blades.

Commonly, leaflet refers to two completely different and unrelated things. First and foremost, a leaflet is a ‘printed, usually folded handbill or flier intended for free distribution.’ It is given in order to spread information, and is one of the cheapest ways to do so. According to FreeDictionary.com, a leaflet is “a printed and usually folded sheet of paper for distribution, usually free and containing advertising material or information about a political party, charity, etc”

However, in context of botany, a leaflet refers to a small leaf or a leaf-like part of a compound leaf. It completely resembles a leaf, but is in fact a segment of what makes up the compound leaf. Unlike a leaf, a leaflet is not attached to the main plant stem or branch, rather it is attached to a petiole, i.e. a branch of the leaf. In fact, a few leaflets as well as the petiole actually make up a leaf of the plant. Leaflet are quite common and are present on a variety of difference plants, such as Hemp, Rose, Coriander, Azadirachta indica (Neem), Moringa, as well as some species of Acacia.

Leaflet is also the name of a JavaScript library that is used for building web mapping applications. While, Leaf is also the name of a model of a compact car by Nissan. Alternately, the Leaf Label is an independent record label based in Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Comparison between Leaf and Leaflet:

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