72 



COLLEGE BOTANY 



compound (Fig.. 53), in which the leafleds are attached at vari- 

 ous points along the petiole from base to tip^, and the palmately 

 compound (Fig. 54), in which the leaflets are attached at the 

 tip of a common petiole. 



The simple leaves are vario'usly designated as cordate or 

 heart-shaped, cuneate or wedge-shaped, deltoid or delta-shaped, 

 elliptical or ellipse-shaped, hastate or halberd-shaped, lanceolate 



Fig. 51. — Palmately veined 



Fig. 52. — Palmately veined leaf. 



or lance-shaped, orbicular or circular, oval or egg-shaped, reni- 

 form or kidney-shaped and sagittate or arrow-shaped. The mar- 

 gins of the leaf may usually be described as entire or smooth, 

 serrate or saw-toothed, dentate or toothed, or lobed. All grada- 

 tions may be found from the slightly lobed, through the more 

 deeply lobed to the compound leaves. 



Functions of Leaves. — The most important function of the 

 leaf is the making of carbohydrates, which is the first step in 



