Parallel venation

Characteristic of monocots

Shown here is a detail from corn (Zea mays) a monocot leaf showing parallel venation of the major veins. While some veins are larger, most are of similar size. Careful observation of such leaf lamina shows that veins do branch and converge in places, especially near the base and apex of the blade.

It is also noteworthy that, at the microscopic level, a reticulate arrangement may exist with the vascular bundles. The small veins that interconnect the larger parallel veins in grasses are called commissural veins.