What term describes leaves that are arranged in a pattern circling the stem?

The term that describes leaves arranged in a pattern circling the stem is known as a whorled leaf arrangement. In this formation, three or more leaves emerge from a single node on the stem, creating a circular pattern around it. This distinctive structure can maximize sunlight capture for each leaf and may help with water drainage away from the stem, thus reducing the risk of fungal infections.

In plant identification and botany, recognizing a whorled arrangement is essential as it differentiates these plants from those with alternate or opposite leaf arrangements. Alternate leaf arrangement features leaves that grow singly at different heights along the stem, while opposite arrangement has two leaves emerging at the same height directly across from each other on the stem. Subopposite would imply that the leaves are positioned closer to each other than in a strict opposite arrangement but not quite aligned in a whorled pattern.