340 THE CROWFOOT FAMILY 
all these cases the branching of the blade follows the palmate 
plan the leaves are conveniently described as palmately 
divided, or palmately once-, twice-, or decompound. ‘The leaves 
of the Christmas rose and some other members of the family 
are peculiar in having the lateral divisions not quite sepa- 
rated, thus making them in a way intermediate between 
Fic. 294.—Bracts and petals of peony connected by intermediate forms. 
Parts marked G are green; Y, yellow; and R, red. (Original.) 
Fic. 295.—Stamens and staminodes of peony showing intermediate forms. 
Parts marked R are red; and those marked Y are yellow. (Original.) 
simple and compound palmate leaves. Such leaves are dis- 
tinguished as pedate.1 
The palmate type of leaf prevails throughout the crowfoot 
family, the only departures from the rule being a few such 
cases as the narrow leaves of mouse-tail in which the frame- 
work is unbranched or obscure, and a few cases in which 
a midrib or continuation of the petiole gives off lateral 
branches as in the leaves of the pasque-flower and clematis 
1 Ped’ ate. << L. pedatus, having a foot. 
