Punctation (adj. = punctate)

  • Title

    Punctation (adj. = punctate)

  • Definition

    A translucent glandular dot or streak such as found on the leaves of Myrtaceae or Rutaceae or an opaque dot found in other families, such as the Lecythidaceae.

  • Notes

    Punctations are best seen by looking through a leaf held against the sky with a 10x hand lens. Translucent punctations allow the passage of light through them and opaque puncations do not allow the passage of light through them. Punctations mostly appear as dots but sometimes they appear as streaks, such as in some species of Lysimachia quadrifolia and some species of Casearia.

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