46 
HOW PLANTS GROW. 
129. Parallel-veined leaves, we see, are of two sorts; — 1. those with the veins or 
nerves all running from the base of the leaf to the point (Fig. 85) ; and, 2. those 
where they mostly run from the midrib to the margin, as in Fig. 86 . Netted-veined 
leaves likewise are of two sorts, the Feather-veined and the Radiate-veined. 
130. Feather-veined (al¬ 
so called pinnately veined ) 
leaves are those in which 
the main veins all spring 
from the two sides of one 
rib, viz. the midrib, like the 
plume of a feather from 
each side of the shaft. Fig¬ 
ures 82, 88-97, 120, 122, 
&c. represent feather-veined 
leaves. 
131. Radiate-Veined (al¬ 
so called palmately veined) 
leaves are those which have 
three or more main ribs ris¬ 
ing at once from the place 
where the footstalk joins the 
blade, and commonly diverg¬ 
ing, like rays from a centre ; the veins branching off from these. Of this sort are 
the leaves of the Maple (Fig. 84), Mallow, Currant, Grape-Vine, and less dis¬ 
tinctly of the Linden (Fig. 83). Such leaves are generally roundish in shape. It. 
is evident that this kind of veining is adapted to round leaves, and the other kind 
for those longer than wide. 
132. Shapes of Leaves. As to general shape, the following are the names of the 
principal sorts. (It will be a good exercise for students to look up examples which 
fit the definitions.) 
Linear ; narrow, several times longer than wide, and of about the same width 
throughout, as in Fig. 87. 
Lance-shaped or Lanceolate ; narrow, much longer than wide, and tapering up¬ 
wards, or both upwards and downwards, as in Fig. 88. 
Oblong; two or three times longer than broad, as in Fig. 89. 
Parallel-veined Leaves. 
