LECT. IX.] GENERAL FIGURE OF LEAVES. 489 



each other, the figure of the leaf is termed pin- 

 natifid (pinnatifidum) , ^; and pectinate (pectina- 

 tum), v, when the segments are very narrow, 

 linear, and parallel like the teeth of a comb. 



These terms are frequently combined to ex- 

 press modifications of two or more of the forms 

 they imply conjoined in one leaf. Thus you will 

 find in the descriptions of leaves, in systematic 

 works, such terms as ovato-lanceolatum, cordato- 

 lanceolatum, kastato-lanceolatum, cordato-ovatum, 

 lineari-lanceolatum, cordato-sagittatum, sagittate - 

 ovatum, lanceolato-ellipticum, mbrotundo-corda- 

 tum, &c. the meaning of which can be accurately 

 acquired by practice only in the examination of 

 plants. The three last-mentioned terms, I ought 

 to notice, involve a contradiction; or, at least, 

 are too nice for practical purposes ; and con- 

 sequently we find, that several of the best sys- 

 tematic Botanists have confounded and misap- 

 plied them. The terms incisum and dissectum 

 are merely modifications of lacmiatum. I may 

 take this opportunity of remarking that the 



