This alternative version of the Fishbone stitch gives a fuller, more raised effect to your leaf but doesn't show the crossover 'fishbone' effect of the Fishbone stitch in the finished leaf.
Begin with your basic leaf shape. I just drew a rough outline as a guide with a pink transfer pencil that would wash off when the embroidery was complete. (This is very pale in the picture below).
To begin, push the needle through the fabric at roughly the centre point of the leaf shape from the back to the front. Pull the thread through, leaving a tail to secure into the work at the back as you continue to sew (as shown on the 'getting started' page).
Push the needle back through the fabric at the centre top point, as shown below.
Bring the needle back up through the fabric to the left of where you originally brought the needle up for your first stitch, roughly level with the centre point. Use your drawn shape as a guide for distance. Pull your thread through.
Insert the needle through the fabric from front to back, slightly lower and to the right of the top of the first stitch and bring it back up slightly lower and to the left of the top of the first stitch as shown below. Pull the thread all the way through. Your second stitch should cross the first stitch at an angle.
Push the needle into the fabric to the right of your original centre point, roughly level with where you originally began to make your first stitch.
Bring the needle back up just below the beginning of your second stitch as shown below and pull the thread through. Your third stitch should cross over the previous two stitches.
Push the needle back into the fabric below and to the right of the top of your second stitch and bring it back up to the left and slightly below the top of your third stitch, as shown below. Use the drawn leaf shape as a guide. Pull your thread through to complete your fourth stitch, which should overlap the previous stitches.
Push the needle into the fabric from front to back just below the bottom of your third stitch. Bring the needle back up just below the beginning of your fourth stitch as shown below and pull the thread through. Your fifth stitch should cross over the previous stitches.
Continue to work these steps, following the shape of the leaf that you drew for your pattern.
When the top of your stitches reach the bottom of your first stitches, continue to overlap the threads until the entire leaf shape has been filled.
I finished off the leaf by adding a stalk using stem stitch.