LEAVES 335 



and various leaves should be examined in any special plant, especially those 

 at the root, as well as those on the stem or near the flower. There are many 

 different shapes. As far as possible, in the following list, the fewest technical 

 terms have been employed. 



ALTERNATE means that the leaves are set one above the other on opposite 

 sides of the stem. 



OPPOSITE means that they are in pairs, starting from the same point, but 

 on opposite sides of the stem. 



RADICAL means that the leaves are found close to the root, on or near the 

 ground. 



SESSILE means that the leaves have no stalk, but " sit " close to the stem 

 or the root. 



SIMPLE means that each leaf is in one piece, having no distinct or separate 

 divisions. 



ACUTE leaves come to a point at their tips. 



CRENATE means that the margins of the leaf are indented or rounded, 

 smoothly and regularly, instead of being toothed sharply. 



CORDATE means " heart-shaped." Frequently a leaf is heart-shaped at 

 the base alone. 



ENTIRE means that the margin of the leaf is free from indentation. 



ELLIPTICAL is " egg-shaped " refers to leaves of long oval form. 



LANCEOLATE means " lance-like " leaves three or four times as long as 

 broad, tapering to a point. 



LINEAR leaves are very long and narrow. 



LOBED means that the leaves are deeply indented or divided. 



LYRATE leaves are deeply-lobed, with the end lobe largest of all. 



OBOVATE leaves are those which are broadest near the apex. 



OVATE leaves are broadest near the base. 



PALMATE means that the leaf is five-lobed, the midrib of each lobe meeting 

 at the base. 



PELTATE leaves have the stalk near their centre (as in the Common Nas- 

 turtium). They are generally roundish in shape. 



PINNATIFID leaves are simple leaves with the segments or lobes arranged 

 like the leaflets in a pinnate leaf (see below), but the lobes are not cut so deeply 

 as to be removed without destroying the leaf-blade structure. 



BIPINNATIFID means that the leaf is pinnatifid, and each lobe or segment 

 pinnatifid too. 



SERRATE means " toothed," the margins of such leaves being toothed 

 like a saw. 



WHORLED leaves start from the same point, being set regularly round 

 the stem. 



COMPOUND leaves have distinct leaflets, each starting from the leaf-stalk. 



PINNATE leaves are composed of leaflets situated on opposite sides of the 

 leaf-stalk. The rose leaf is an example. 



