Serrate Leaf Margin
Definition
The saw-toothed edge of a Cannabis leaflet, with pointed teeth that point toward the leaf tip. Counting and characterising teeth per centimetre is a standard macroscopic observation in bulk-sample identification.
- Feature
- Saw-toothed leaflet edge
- Tooth orientation
- Points toward the leaf tip
- Use
- Macroscopic bulk-sample identification
- Measured as
- Teeth per centimetre of margin
Common questions
Why count teeth per centimetre instead of just noting the leaf shape?+
Tooth density gives a more reproducible, quantifiable observation than a general shape description, which helps standardise identification notes across examiners and samples in a bulk botanical exam.
Is leaf margin alone enough to confirm Cannabis?+
No. Serration is one of several diagnostic features examined alongside leaflet number, venation, trichome type, and microscopic or chemical tests, since serrate margins occur in other plant species too.
Related terms
- Achene
- The one-seeded fruit of Cannabis, commonly called the seed in casual usage. Its reticulate surface pattern and ovoid shape are species-level identifying...
- Capitate-Sessile Trichome
- A smaller glandular trichome sitting directly on the epidermal surface without a stalk. Found across leaf surfaces and young stems and also...
- Capitate-Stalked Trichome
- A glandular secretory trichome with a multicellular stalk and a large secretory head densely concentrated on female flower bracts. The primary site...
- Cystolith Hair
- A non-glandular, hook-shaped unicellular trichome in Cannabis that contains a calcium carbonate deposit (cystolith) in its base. Visible under low magnification, it...
- Hemp vs Drug-Type Distinction
- Both are Cannabis sativa. The legal distinction is chemical: hemp is defined by jurisdictions as plants or products containing delta-9-THC below a...