Vine leaf forms

*Included in this key are only those species found in the area surveyed* at Buttermilk Falls State Park.**

. Vascular Plants of the Gorge at Buttermilk Falls State Park (Ithaca, NY) Plant Finder .
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What type of leaves does the vine have?

Many traditional keys use flower and fruit characters to help us identify plants. Focusing on flowers and fruits is the best way to help the learner understand the relationships between the various species covered in the key. Unfortunately, flowers and fruits are not present all season. On the other hand, leaves are usually present throughout most of the growing season. For that reason, we will rely heavily on leaf characteristics in this key.

The basic vine leaf forms are: compound, simple lobed, simple unlobed.
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What type of leaves does the vine have?

(Click one of the pictures below that corresponds to your choice.)


(compound leaves) The leaf contains three or more separate leaflets that are attached directly to the leaf stalk, but are not connected to each other..

.(simple lobed leaves) The leaf has two or more lobes.	\

(simple unlobed leaves) The leaf has neither lobes nor separate leaflets. The leaf is either round, oval or egg-shaped.
Note: all three leaf forms may have either smooth edges or toothed edges.