OfiGAXS OF XrTEITION. 153 



is very irregular, being twisted and curled, as in the Garden 

 Endive, Curled Dock, and Curled Mint, it is said to be ci-isped 

 or curled {fig. 298). 



2. Incision. — This term is used when the margin is more deeply 

 divided than in the above instances, so that the parench}-ma 

 does not usually extend more than about midway between it and 

 the midrib, or petiole. The divisions are then commonly called 

 lobes. It is usual, however, to give different names to these lobes, 

 according to the depth of the incisions by which they are pro- 

 duced ; thus if they reach to midway between the margin and 

 midrib, or petiole, they are properly called divisions or lobes 

 {figs. 287 and 305), and the intervals between them fissures, or 

 in composition the term -fid is used, and the leaf is said to be 

 cleft; if nearly to the base, or midrib {fig. 299), partitions, and 

 the leaf is partite; if quite down to the base or midrib, segments 

 {fig. 300), and the leaf is dissected, or in composition -sected. 

 These segments differ from the leaflets of compound leaves, as 

 already noticed, in not being articulated, and also in being united 

 to the midrib or petiole by a broad base. 



In describing the above leaves we say that they are bifid or 

 two-cleft, trifid or three-cleft, quinquefid or five-cleft, septernfid, or 

 seven-cleft, or multifid {many-cleft), according to the number of 

 their fissures; or two-lobed, three-lobed, four-lobed, &c., from the 

 number of divisions or lobes. A leaf is also said to be tripartite, 

 or trisected, &e., in the same manner, according to the number of 

 partitions, or segments. These terms are more especially used 

 with pa Imately- veined simple leaves. 



The divisions of the lamina are always arranged in the direc- 

 tion of the prominent veins. Thus those of feather-veined or 

 pinnately -veined leaves are directed towards the midrib ; while 

 those of palmately- or radiated-veined leaves are directed to- 

 wards the base of the lamina. Hence instead of using terms 

 indicating the number of lobes, &c., of the lamina, others are 

 frequently employed that define the leaf more accurately, and 

 which are derived from the mode of venation combined with that 

 of division. Thus if the lamina is feather-veined and the 

 incisions consequently arranged in that manner, the leaf is 

 said to he pinnatifid {fig. 287), as in the common Oaks ; or ptin- 

 natipartite {fig. 299), as in Valeriana dioica ; or pinnatisccted 

 {fig. 300) ; according to their depth, as already described. If 

 the divisions are themselves divided in a similar manner to the 

 lamina itself, the leaf is said to be bipinnatifid, bipinnatipartite, 

 or hipinnatisected, &c. Or, if the subdivisions of these are again 

 divided in a similar manner, tripinnatifid, tripinnatipartite, 

 tripinnatisected, &c. Or, if the lamina is still further divided, 

 the leaf is said to be decoraposed, laciniated, or slashed. 



Certain modifications of these forms have also received special 

 names ; thus when a pinnately- veined leaf is deeply divided, and 



