40 



FIRST LESSONS WITH PLANTS 



might represent foliage of an 

 indefinite form ; or, in other 

 words, that there is no abso- 

 lute and typical form of to- 

 mato leaves. Let the 

 pupil examine many 

 tomato plants, and see 

 if this is true. 



48. The dahlia leaf 

 is peculiar (Fig. 35). 

 In this specimen there 

 are five well -defined 

 leaflets, C, 0, M, M, 

 A ; but one of these, 

 A, has given rise to 

 a strong segment or 

 division, and two 

 others have divisions 

 which are sufficiently 

 distinct to be called 

 leaflets. There are va- 

 rious grades of dividing or 

 compounding, and the leaf 

 may be said to be mixed. 

 It is incompletely bi- com- 

 pound. 



49. From observations on 

 leaves, we are soon impressed 



FIG. 35. 

 Leaf of dahlia. 



