'uneven-leafed' originates from English, specifically the combination of 'uneven' + 'leaf' + suffix '-ed', where 'un-' meant 'not', 'even' meant 'level' or 'flat', and 'leaf' meant 'leaf (plant organ)'.

'uneven' comes from Old English elements ('un-' + 'efen'/'even') and 'leaf' comes from Old English 'lēaf'; the compound adjective 'uneven-leafed' developed in Modern English as a descriptive botanical compound formed by joining these elements.

Initially the components conveyed 'not level' and 'leaf' as separate basic senses; over time the compound has been used specifically to describe the characteristic 'having leaves that are not uniform,' particularly in botanical contexts.