Introduction to the different types of leaves

WARNING!!..........This page is under CONSTRUCTION. There are several missing photos. I have been working on it for some time and have decided to post it anyway. Maybe some one might have a photo or two that I might be able to use to finish the page.

  

This page will deal with the different types of Leaves in the African Violets. The majority of the text was taken from African Violet Society of America Handbook For African Violet Growers, exhibitors, and Judges of which a copy maybe obtained from AVSA. I strongly any person that is serious about African Violets invest in a copy of the handbook, it is not only for judges but also for growers. The handbook has a vast amount of useful information for anyone growing African Violets.

African violet foliage ranges in color from light green through dark mahogany green. Markings on variegated foliage (in addition to shades of green) can be white, cream, light yellow, or rosy shades from light pink to a deep wine red. Beside color, the shapes of the leaves are also distinctive. The more common foliage types are:

Compound, Wasp, Bustle, or Piggyback:

Leaves are compound with one larger and two smaller lobes. At one time there was a hybridizer Jimmy Dates that did a lot of hybridizing with bustle foliage and wasp blossoms. Being the strange sort of person that I am they are right up my alley, I have several of his plants and probably will add more in the furture. The leaf here is from his hybrid Bluetail Fly it is one of my favorites.

Girl:

Deeply scalloped leaves, usually rounded or heart-shaped with white to yellow markings at the base of each leaf. These markings can extend to the leaf blades and edges of the leaf. African Violets of girl foliage are interesting and different to grow. Here is a scanned image of a Ramblin' Lassie leaf, one of my favorite girl foliage plants.

Holly:

Heavily crested leaves with the leaf edges curled forward or bent back with exaggerated wavy edges resembling holly in form. ?????????

Longifolia or Spider:

Narrow pointed strap-like leaves with either plain or wavy edges. ?????????

Plain or Tailored:

Plain in texture and form it is sometimes known as standard or boy type foliage. Not much to say about this one it is rather plain and boring not really my kind of violets but, I do have one that I like it is Tulsa Boy.

Pointed:

Ends of the leaves come to a definite point. ?????????

Quilted:

Leaves have distinct raised areas between the veins. Some leaves have pie-crust edging. ?????????

Ruffled, Fringed, Wavy, or Fluted:

Leaves have serrated or ragged edges. Here is a scanned image of a ruffled leaf from Feather.

Spooned, Ovate, Cupped-up:

Leaves are concave with high edges like a spoon. ?????????

Supreme:

Leaves are thick, hairy, and quilted with strong pencil-like petioles. ?????????

Clacamas or Watermelon:

Leaves are stripped like a watermelon. ?????????

Variegated:

Leaves (in addition to shades of green) can be marked with white, cream, light yellow, or rosy shades from light pink to a deep wine red.

     A. Variegated foliage: Defines all variegation other than two listed below. I think my favorite variegation is the ones containing the rosy shades such as found in Okie Blackberry Summer

     B. Crown variegation:?????????

     C. Mosaic variegation: Here the variegation is spread all over the leaf. One of my favorite masaic leaf variegated plants is Fisherman's Paradise