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Leaf or leaflet dissection

This feature concerns lobing of leaf or leaflet margins. Lobing is on a larger scale than leaf margin patterns such as toothing (see the feature Leaf or leaflet margin). Leaf dissections may be very deep, even to the midrib, yet such leaves would still not be considered compound. Compound leaves have separate leaflets, each usually having its own stalk (petiolule). Leaves may be doubly or triply dissected (see bottom illustration).

 

undissected

May be entire or toothed.

 

pinnately lobed

Lobing shallow, as in the pinnatifid leaf on the left, or deep, as in the pinnatisect leaf on the right.

palmately lobed

Lobes shallow to deep.

Leaves doubly and triply pinnately dissected.
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