Leaf Margins

Entire

A smooth margin with no indentations or incisions.

Crenate

Margins with shallow rounded or blunt teeth.

Serrate

Margins with pointed teeth directed forward, towards the apex of the leaf.

Crenulate

Margins with small rounded or blunt teeth, diminutive of crenate.

Dentate

Margins with pointed teeth directed outward, perpendicular to the midrib.

Double Serrate

Coarsely serrate margin with smaller teeth on the margins of larger teeth.

Denticulate

Margins with small pointed teeth directed outward, perpendicular to the midrib, diminutive of dentate.

Broad-Crenate

Margins with widely spaced, rounded or blunt teeth, e.g., many violets (Viola, Violaceae).

Serrulate

Margins with small pointed teeth directed forward, towards the apex of the leaf, diminutive of serrate.

Erose

With margins appearing gnawed, indentations shallow and irregular.

Revolute

With margins rolled inward on the lower surface of the leaf.

Involute

With margins rolled inward on the upper surface of the leaf.

Ciliate

With hairs projecting out from the leaf margin.

Spinescent (also Spinose)

With stiff acuminate spines along the blade margin.

Repand

Margins with very shallow indentations, cut less than 1/16 the distance to the midrib.

Undulate

Margins with shallow indentations, wavy in a vertical plane.

Sinuate

Margins with shallow wavy indentations, cut 1/16 to the distance to the midrib.

Lobed (Pinnately or Palmately)

With rounded lobes and rounded sinuses cut 1/2; to 1/4; the distance to the midrib.

Cleft (Pinnately or Palmately)

With rounded lobes and convex or straight sinuses cut 1/4 to 1/2; the distance to the midrib.

Parted (Pinnately or Palmately)

With lobes cut 1/2 to 3/4 the distance to the midrib.

Palmatifid (Palmately Divided)

With lobes cut palmately 3/4 to almost completely to the midrib.

Pinnatifid (Pinnately Divided)

With lobes cut pinnately 3/4 to almost completely to the midrib.

Incised

Jagged margins cut sharply and deeply.

Lacerate

Margins irregularly cut, appearing torn.

Pectinate

Pinnately divided into fine, parallel segments, comb- or feather-like.

Dissected

With narrow divisions finely subdivided into many smaller segments.