PLANT ORGANS AND ORGANISMS 
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When a sessile leaf surrounds the stem more or less at the base, 
it is called clasping or amplexicaul. Example: Poppy ( Papaver 
somniferum). 
When the bases of two opposite leaves are so united as to form 
one piece, they are called connate-perfoliate , as Eupatorium perfolia- 
tum or Boneset. 
Leaves are called equitant when they are all radical and succes¬ 
sively folded on each other toward their bases, as in Iris sp. 
The Forms of Leaves.— Simple leaves are those having a single 
blade, either sessile or petiolate. 
Compound leaves are divided into two or more distinct subdivi¬ 
sions called leaflets, which may be either sessile or petiolate. 
Simple leaves and the separate blades of compound leaves are de¬ 
scribed as to general outline, apex, base, marginal indentations, sur¬ 
face and texture. 
(a) General Outline (form viewed as a whole without regard to 
indentations of margin). Dependent upon kind of venation. 
When the lower veins are longer and larger than the others, the 
leaf is Ovate, or Egg-shaped. Parallel-veined leaves are usually 
linear, long and narrow of nearly equal breadth throughout 
(Linaria), or lanceolate, like the linear with the exception that the 
broadest part is a little below the center. Example: Long 
Buchu. 
Elliptical, somewhat longer than wide, with rounded ends and 
sides. Example: Leaf of Pear. 
Oblong, when longer than broad, margins parallel. Example: 
Matico. 
Inequilateral, margin longer on one side than the other, as the 
Hamamelis, Elm and Linden. 
Orbicular, circular in shape. Example: Nasturtium. 
Peltate, or shield-shaped, having the petiole inserted at the center 
of the lower surface of the lamina. Example: Podophyllum. 
Filiform, or thread-like, very long and narrow, as Asparagus leaves. 
Ovate, broadly elliptical. Example: Boldo. Obovate, reversely 
ovate. Examples: Short Buchu and Menyanthes. 
Oblanceolate, reversely lanceolate. Example: Chimaphila. 
Cuneate, shaped like a wedge with the point backward. 
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