'delicate-leaved' originates from the combination of 'delicate' and 'leaved', where 'delicate' meant 'fine or fragile' and 'leaved' refers to having leaves.

The term 'delicate-leaved' evolved from the use of 'delicate' to describe fine or fragile qualities and 'leaved' to denote the presence of leaves.

Initially, it meant 'having fine or fragile leaves', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.