54 Plants and their Ways m Sotith Africa 



and lower leaves of BtLplernm diffoi-me and Scabiosa come 

 to have a new meaning for us. Plants frequently lose all 

 traces of their early leaves, but the first leaf on each branch 

 of the RJms shown in Fig. 64 serves to remind us of the plant's 

 simple habits in early life. 



Attempts have been made to name the different shapes of 

 leaves. To name them all would be a difficult task, as no tY>^o 

 leaves are just the same shape. 



Aside from the general outline, leaves vary in their margins. 

 They may be entire or serrate (saw toothed), dentate (toothed), 

 crenate or scalloped, repand, undulate, and so on. 



The diagrams of forms and margins of leaves mentioned 

 by Linnaeus are shown in Fig. 65. You can find other shapes. 



