'alternate-leaved' originates from the Latin word 'alternatus', meaning 'to do by turns', and 'leaf', from Old English 'lēaf', meaning 'leaf of a plant'.

'Alternatus' transformed into the English word 'alternate', and 'lēaf' became 'leaf', eventually forming the compound adjective 'alternate-leaved'.

Initially, it meant 'leaves arranged in turns', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.