A leaf is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, flower, and fruit collectively form the shoot system. In most leaves, the primary photosynthetic tissue is the palisade mesophyll and is located on the upper side of the blade or lamina of the leaf but in some species, including the mature foliage of Eucalyptus, palisade mesophyll is present on both sides and the leaves are said to be isobilateral. Most leaves are flattened and have distinct upper (adaxial) and lower (abaxial) surfaces that differ in color, hairiness, the number of stomata, the amount and structure of epicuticular wax and other features. Leaves are mostly green in color due to the presence of a compound called chlorophyll which is essential for photosynthesis as it absorbs light energy from the sun. A leaf with lighter-colored or white patches or edges is called a variegated leaf.

ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬಗೆಯ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳ ಕಾಂಡ, ರೆಂಬೆ, ಕೊಂಬೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವಿಧ ವರ್ಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಭಾಗ ಎಲೆ (ಲೀಫ್). ಕಾಂಡದ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಸಿರಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸಸ್ಯಭಾಗಗಳನ್ನೂ ವಾಡಿಕೆಯಾಗಿ ಎಲೆ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಎಲೆಯಂತೆ ತೋರದ ಇನ್ನೂ ಅನೇಕ ಭಾಗಗಳೂ ಎಲೆಗಳೇ ಆಗಿವೆಯೆಂದು ಸಂಶೋಧನೆಗಳಿಂದ ತಿಳಿಯಬಂದಿದೆ. ‌/