One of the first steps in plant identification is determining the leaf shape of the plant species you are working with. Depending on the plant identification key you are using, there may be as many as a dozen different leaf shape types listed. Basic leaf shapes include round, ovate, oblong, deltoid and linear. Before you try to determine the shape of a plant's leaves, you'll need to first understand basic leaf anatomy and a few simple botanical terms.

Leaves grow in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, textures and colors. Both deciduous and evergreen trees have leaves; in evergreen trees, needles and scales are considered leaves.

In the most simple terms, a ​leaf blade​ is the broad, flattened part of a plant. Leaves are attached to stems by ​petioles​, which are like short stalks. The edges of leaves are called the ​margins​.

Plant leaves can be simple or compound. If a plant has only one blade per petiole, it is called a ​simple leaf​. When the blade of a leaf is made up of several smaller leaflets, this is referred to as a ​compound leaf​.

There are three types of leaf arrangements – called ​phyllotaxy​ – in plants: alternate, opposite and whorled. Plants that display ​alternate leaf arrangement​ have one leaf growing from each node, which is the place where a leaf attaches to the stem. In ​opposite leaf arrangement​, two leaves grow across from each other at a single node. According to The University of Texas at Austin Biodiversity Center, a plant has ​whorled leaves​ when three or more leaves grow from a single node.

It can be challenging to determine leaf shape from leaf arrangement, so it's important to know the difference between leaves and leaflets. ​Leaves​ attach to petioles, whereas ​leaflets​ – which are smaller parts of a leaf blade – attach to midribs. A ​midrib​ is the central vein of a leaf.

As you look at a single leaf, take in the overall shape. Is it longer than it is wide? If so, it may be classified as ​linear​ or ​oblong​. According to The Seed Site, ​sword-shaped leaves​ are long and pointed, while ​lance-shaped leaves​ are long and wider at the middle than at the ends.

Check out the illustration provided by the University of Illinois to visualize 17 leaf shape types. These include basic shapes like ​elliptical​ and ​orbicular​, along with more unusual shapes such as ​perfoliate​ and ​flabellate​. Heart-shaped leaves are referred to as ​cordate​, and many of the leaves of evergreens are called ​scale-like​. ​Rhomboid​ leaves are shaped like diamonds, and ​spear-shaped leaves​ look exactly like they sound.

After you decide whether a leaf is simple or compound, the leaf arrangement and the shape of a plant's leaves, there are several other characteristics that can help you determine what species you are working with. Leaf edges, or margins, often provide help in identifying plants. From smooth to serrated, and finely serrate to lobed, there are many descriptive terms for leaf margins, as illustrated by the University of Georgia Extension.

Another characteristic of leaves is the way that the veins are arranged. ​Venation​ is the botanical term for the patterning of veins in leaves. There are three basic ways that veins are arranged in leaves: parallel, pinnate and palmate. ​Palmate veins​ diverge from a central point, while ​pinnate veins​ look like a ladder, with smaller veins spaced along a main vein. ​Parallel veins​ run alongside each other.

The texture of a plant's leaves can also help you determine its identity. Checking whether a leaf is smooth or rough and thick or thin can often provide clues about the genus and species of a plant.