48 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



the margins are often notched. In monocotyledons they 

 usually run more or less parallel, the veinlets join near the 

 margin which is usually entire. Simple leaves are sometimes 

 cut. They are called lobed, parted, or divided, according to 

 the depth of the incisions. 



The leaflets of a compound leaf are attached by a little 

 hinge or joint. Lebeckia linearifolia, E.M. has but one leaflet. 



^^^^UmUA 



Fig. 54. — Banana leaves torn by the wind. Fig. 55. — Compound leaf of 



Orange with one leaflet. 



The hinge at the base tells that it is a compound leaf which has 

 become reduced to a single leaflet. Other Lebeckias have 

 several leaflets. The same is true of the Orange and Lemon 

 leaf. The trifoliate Orange has three leaflets. 



The Arrangement of Leaves on the Stem.— We 

 have seen that leaves are not well developed when covered 

 from the light. Light as well as air is necessary for green 

 leaves to do their work of making food for the plant. Too 



