VII.] 



THE LEAVES. 



69 



in outline, and attention must be paid to both in describing 

 the form of leaves. The apex, if sharp, is termed acute, 

 if blunt or rounded, obtuse ; if with a very shallow narrow 

 notch, emarginate ; if the notch be deep, bifid the leaf 

 becoming bipartite if divided nearly to the base ; it is 

 trifid or tripartite if there be three divisions. The base 

 of the blade in cordate, sagittate, and hastate leaves we 

 have already figured. If the base of the sessile leaf clasp 

 the stem, it is termed amplexicaul. If the lobes at each 

 side of the base of an amplexicaul leaf be united together 

 on the side of the stem opposite to the midrib, so that 

 the stem appears to pass through the blade, the leaf is 

 perfoliate. If the bases of two opposite leaves be united 



FIG. 48. Pinnate leaf of Bean. Stip. stipules. 



