68 SOUTH AFRICAN BOTANY 
veined leaves. If the main vein branches at the base of 
the leaf-blade into several equal strong ribs, we have 
palmately veined leaves. 
37. Vernation.—By this term is meant the manner in 
which leaves in the bud are arranged with regard to 
each other. Vernation may be FREE when the leaves 
Fic. 41,—A. Verticillate arrangement of leaves. B. Amplexicaul leaf. 
C. Decurrent leaf. D. Perfoliate leaf. 
do not touch ; VALVATE when just touching; IMBRICATE 
when some leaves overlap others ; CoNTORTED when the 
margins overlap each other successively in one direction. 
38. Descriptive Terms.—In order to be able to de- 
scribe leaves for the purposes of information and recog- 
nition the following terms are used. When, as in the 
case of the Poppy, the leaf base surrounds the stem 
