88 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. 
leaves themselves, but also because in classifying and describ- 
ing plants the characteristic forms of the leaves of many 
kinds of plants form a very simple and ready means of dis- 
tinguishing them from each other and identifying them. The 
student is not expected to learn the names of the several 
shapes of leaves as a whole or of their bases, tips, or margins, 
except in those cases in which he needs to use and apply 
them. 
116. The Maple Leaf.1— Sketch 
the leafy twig. 
Are the leaves arranged in rows 
like those of the elm? How are they 
arranged ? 
Fic. 69. — Pinnately Divided 
Leaf of Celandine. 
The blade of the leaf is 
discontinuous, consisting of 
several portions between 
which are spaces in which no 
Fic. 68. — Palmately Netted-Veined part of the blade has been 
Leaf of Melon. developed. 
Notice the way in which half of the whole number of petioles are 
twisted and some of the others bent to bring the proper surface of the 
leaf upward toward the light. 
Do the edges of these leaves show larger spaces between them than 
the elm leaves did, i.e., would a spray of maple intercept the sunlight 
1 Any kind of maple will answer the purpose. Palmately veined leaves are less 
abundant among our forest trees than are pinnately veined ones. The sycamore is 
one of the commonest species. Among other plants may be suggested the ordinary 
‘*geraniums”’ (pelargoniums), the pumpkin, squash, grape, currant, and hollyhock. 
