Which plant propagation method involves taking cuttings from leaves or stems?

The method of plant propagation that involves taking cuttings from leaves or stems is known as asexual propagation. This technique allows for the reproduction of plants without the use of seeds, effectively creating clones of the parent plant. When cuttings are taken, they can develop roots and grow into a new, independent plant.

Asexual propagation is commonly used because it is generally faster than growing plants from seed and ensures that the offspring carry the exact genetic information of the parent plant, leading to consistent characteristics. This is particularly important in horticulture and agriculture, where specific traits, such as flower color or disease resistance, are desired.

Other methods, such as air layering, sexual propagation, and tissue culture, are distinct and involve different processes that do not focus primarily on stem or leaf cuttings in the same way that asexual propagation does.