103 



shows that the greater number of leaves are of the shapes men- 

 tioned. And, since the widest part is for the most part near the 

 middle, the dominant shape is oval. 







SHAPES OF SASSAFRAS LEAVES 









CO 



Gi 



















5 

 o 



1 < 

 / > 



1 ° 





g 

 o 



21fo 



s 

 1 



o 



< 



1 



1- 

 < 



o 



< 

 c 



S 

 / 



< 



O 



o 



o 

 2 



< 



4 



o 

 o 



1- 



o 









^ 



1.2fc 





/ 



'^ 



V \ 



Figure 2. 



In regard to the form of the tip there is also much variation. 

 As most of the leaves are oval, obtuse tips might be expected to 

 prevail. Though the curve (Fig. 3) shows that this is true, yet 

 a surprisingly large number of other forms are shown. Some 

 of these, for instance the emarginate, may possibly be due to 

 wounding, but that cause can hardly be advanced for all of the 

 variants. 



On the condition of the base, sassafras leaves may be divided 

 into two large classes. The first of these includes those leaves 

 in which the blade begins at opposite points on the petiole ; the 

 second those in which the blade starts at points that are not op- 

 posite, one side beginning at a point either higher or lower than 



