Begonia Registration Handbook - American Begonia Society

Incisions
On the previous pages, various leaf margins were shown. Some begonias also have various incisions on the
leaf such as clefts and lobes. When describing a begonia with incisions, add the incision type to the margin
type to correctly describe the margin. For instance a cleft leaf with a serrate margin would be cleft serrate.
Clefts and lobes are differentiated by how deep the incision is. The illustrations on these two pages will try to
show how the types are determined. The distances used are from the tips of the leaf to the main sinus of the
leaf where the petiole is attached. In some instances, long narrow leaves, the measurement may be from the
leaf tip to the main central vein. If the incision is less than one third of the distance from the tip, the leaf is
lobed. If the incision is more than a third but less than two thirds it is cleft. Any incision more than two thirds
the distance from the tip is parted. The parting can go completely from the leaf tip to the main sinus and still
be parted. A leaf can be a combination of the various incisions. One side of the leaf can be cleft while one
side is parted so could be called cleft and parted.
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