i 
COMPOUND LEAVES. 9 
11. All true leaves can be arranged or classed into 
twokinds; the simple leaf, in which the blade is 
either entire or divided, and the compound leaf, which 
at first sight appears to be a kind of divided leaf, but 
when carefully examined proves to be very different in 
its character. 
In order to explain the nature of the compound leaf, 
it will be necessary to examine one or more of the 
following examples :— 
a. The leaf of an Orange Tree (pl. 3. f. 2.), when 
first examined appears to be a simple leaf, placed upon 
a leaf stalk; but observe a small character in its 
structure which proves it to be a compound leaf, viz. 
that where the blade joins (a.) the leaf-stalk, there is a 
joint, and the blade easily falls off at this part; as 
easily as the leaf-stalk does from the stem itself. This 
character cannot be found in the leaf of the Lilac, 
Lime, Apple, or in any of the leaves already mentioned. 
On further examination of the sides of the leaf-stalk of 
the Orange, it will be seen that there is a leafy part 
(b.), seldom to be met with in simple leaves, but which 
corresponds to the other parts of'a compound leaf. In 
the common Jasmine the leaf appears to be divided, 
but each portion will be found to be jointed to the leaf- 
stalk, as the single blade of the Orange is to its own 
petiole. This blade of the Orange answers to the 
little end leaf of the Jasmine, while the two small 
leafy parts on the leaf stalk correspond to two little 
leaves, one on each side of the petiole of the Jasmine. 
b. Compare the leaf of the Jasmine with that of 
the Water Cress (f. 3.), which is deeply divided down to 
