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 



Fig. 294. — Bracts and petals of peony connected by intermediate forms. 

 Parts marked G are green; Y, yellow; and R, red. (Original.) 



Fig. 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.^ 



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 

 ' Ped' ate. <C L. pedatus, having a foot. 



