Want to pass yourself off as a botanist? Start by learning a few simple geometric shapes

When you come across a plant you don't recognize

flipping through field guides, using apps, or asking for an ID

is nothing compared tostomping it deadsatisfying

Stomping is satisfying in the moment, but if you get caught, how embarrassing is that

Is thereeasy to learn, universal, and perfect for showing off

Of course there is!

Whether you know the name or not

you can pretend to casually

useprofessionalterminology to describe the characteristics of plant leaves

If you know the name, for example copper coin grass (Centella asiatica)

you can say, look

the leaves of copper coin grass arepeltate leaves

Image: James H. Miller / USDA Forest Service

If you don't know the name, for example...

no worries, you can say

this isa bipinnate to tripinnate odd-pinnate compound leaf

Sounds impressive, right?

Five stepsto teach you this skill!

Step one

First, see whether it's a simple leaf or a compound leaf

This is easy to understand

Find a single petiole growing from a stem node

attached to only one leaf bladethat's a simple leaf

bearing multiple leafletsthat's a compound leaf

Image: Frank Vincentz / wiki commons

Look

one petiole attached to three leaves

Clover, of course, isa compound leafof course

Step two

You need to know some simple geometric shapes

ovate

obovate

cordate

lanceolate

……

Some leaves are hard to describe in a word?

Just usecombined termsand you're set

For example, the leaves of weeping willow are especially narrow and long

we call themlinear-lanceolate

The ovate leaves of the lilac are relatively broad

so just call thembroadly ovatethen

Step three

Pay attention to the leaf apex, leaf margin and base

Leaf shapes may seem endlessly varied

but in fact it's always these three parts that vary

Image: Ptelea / wiki commons

For example, this elm leaf

Saying only ovate leaf isn't enough, you can also say it has

an apexthat is acuminate,a leaf marginthat is serrate

a basewith asymmetrical curves on both sides

Alright, now, you are already able to

professionally describesimple leaves!

Too easy?

Let's raise the difficulty and take on compound leaves

Step four

When you encounter a compound leaf, observe the rachis

The rachis is the part of the common petiole where the leaflets are attached

Like the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

the leaflets are attached at the tip of the common petiole

In other wordsthe rachis has only one pointwhere they attach

is calledpalmatecompound leaf

If the leaflets are arranged on both sides of the common petiole

in other words,the rachis is relatively long

that kind ispinnatecompound leaf

Image: Liné1 / wiki commons

Look at the silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), looks like a feather, right?

To break it down further, it isbipinnate evenpinnate compound leaf

Odd or even depends on whether there are leaflets at the tip of the rachis

How many times depends on how many layers of branching the rachis has

Also, those with only three leaflets

are called trifoliolate compound leaves

Like clover, where the leaflets grow from a single point

arepalmately trifoliolatecompound leaves

Image: Vengolis / wiki commons

And like cowpea

with three ovate-rhombic leaflets

occupying more than one point on the rachis

arepinnately trifoliolatecompound leaves

Step five

Look more, remember more, practice more

Didn't digest what was covered today?

Don't worry

As long as you look more, memorize more and practice more

very soon, you'll be able to fully master

thissuper practicalshow-off skill!

Where do you start practicing? You need to

flip to any page and give it a try, stop

zoom in to look at the leaves

write down your judgment

newly added

Chinese names, even easier to use!

When you're not yet proficient, you can also

cross-check against the scientific names and Chinese names

It's both a field guide and a notebook

New knowledge can be jotted down anytime

Isn't that super convenient?

The classic "

One Book of Nature" series from Guokr Store

Selected paper + a binding design that lies flat at 180°

makes youreally want to write in it, and it's also handy for taking photos to show off

80 blank pages for single leaves and unifoliolate compound leaves

20 color pages for pinnately compound leaves and palmately compound leaves

Scientifically richand good-looking

More

carefully designedlittle surprises

are waiting for you to discover by scanning the QR code below