44 THE BOOK OF ROSES. 



Rosa simplicifolia constitutes an exception ; its 

 single leaflet, supported by a foot-stalk, form- 

 ing a simple leaf. 



The leaf of the rose is termed winged, because 

 the leaflets are placed opposite each other in 

 pairs on the foot-stalk in the form of wings ; 

 but it is also winged cum impari, or irregularly, 

 because terminated at the end by an odd leaf- 

 let. The leaf is said to be composed of five, 

 seven, or nine leaflets, according to the num- 

 ber observable in the greatest proportion of its 

 leaves. A leaflet may be in form lanceolated, 

 oval, ovoid or egg-shaped, orbicular, elliptic, 

 spatulated, or linear. The base maybe rounded, 

 attenuated, sloped, or cordiform ; the summit 

 obtuse, round, pointed, acuminated. With re- 

 spect to its margin, a leaflet may be even-edged, 

 dentated or toothed, serrated or with teeth like 

 a saw ; doubly toothed if every deep indenta- 

 tion has a lesser one by its side ; irregularly 

 toothed, and crenated or notched. The teeth 

 are sharp, obtuse, or minutely serrated. The 

 edges may also be ciliated or fringed with hair, 

 or glandulous. With respect to its surfaces, a 

 leaflet may be plane, convex, concave, undu- 

 lated, wrinkled, rugged, curled, nervous or 

 ribbed, enerve or ribless. They may be smooth 

 and naked, glaucous or of a blueish sea-green 

 colour, produced by a powdery bloom resem- 

 bling that upon a plum; hispid, woolly, bristly, 



