A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

perfoliate, “when the two basal lobes of an amplexicaul leaf are united together, so that the stem appears to pass through the substance of the leaf” (Lindley); “used when a stem apparently passes through a leaf, as in Bupleurum perfoliatum, L.” (Jackson); (of a leaf) “having the stem apparently passing through it” (Fernald 1950); often the bases of the leaves are cordate, hastate or otherwise with distinct lobes that may be incumbent (i.e. superposed) or fused (connate): perfoliatus,-a,-um (adj.A);

- folia basi lobato-cordata, ampiexicaulia, lobis incumbentibus, ut caulis quasi perfoliatus (Swartz), leaves at the base lobed like a heart, amplexicaul [i.e. clasping the stem], with the lobes superposed, as though the stem were perfoliate.

- Thaspi perfoliatum: foliis caalinis cordalo-amplexicaulibus (DeCandolle), with the cauline leaves cordate-amplexicaul.

- Lepidium perfoliatum: foliis summis cordatis amplexicaulibus integris (DeCandolle), with the highest leaves cordate, amplexicaul, entire.

- Gypsophila perfoliata: foliis ovato-lanceolatis semi-amplexicaulibus. (DeCandolle), with the leaves ovate-lanceolate, half-stem-clasping [i.e. clasping one half of the circumference of the stem].

- Saponaria perfoliata: foliis oblongo-lanceolatis basi connatis (DeCandolle), with the leaves oblong-lanceolate connate at the base.

- Silene perfoliata: foliis rotundato-perfoliatis (DeCandolle), with the leaves rounded-perfoliata.

- Hypericum connatum: foliis deltoideis perfoliatis obtusis coriaceis (DeCandolle), with the leaves deltoid, perfoliate, obtuse leathery.

- foliis ovalibus connato-perfoliatis (Boissier), with the leaves oval, connate-perfoliate.

- folia integerrima, infima sapius graminea, caulina basi attenuata v. cordato-perfoliata (B&H), leaves completely entire, the lowermost more often like grass, the stem leaves at the base narrowed or cordate-perfoliate.

- folia alterna, digitatim 3-foliolata v. simplicia et sessilia v. perfoliata (B&H), leaves alternate, digitately 3-foliolate or simple [undivided] and sessile or perfoliate.

amplexicaulis,-e (adj.B): amplexicaul, amplexicaulous, clasping the stem, as the base of a leaf.

connatus,-a,-um (part.A): connate, “when the bases of two opposite leaves are united together. Also when any parts, originally distinct, become united in after-growth” (Lindley).

peltate, “fixed to the stalk by the center, or by some point distinctly within the margin” (Lindley).