quaternate

American  

[kwot-er-neyt, kwuh-tur-nit] / ˈkwɒt ərˌneɪt, kwəˈtɜr nɪt /

adjective

1. arranged in or consisting of four parts, as the leaves of certain plants.

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Etymology

Origin of quaternate

1745–55; < Latin quatern ( ī ) four at a time + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quaternate

This number in one summer amounted to 46 quaternate and 16 quinate leaves, and it was evident that I had secured an instance of the rare "five-leaved" race which I am about to describe.

From Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation by Hugo de Vries

For brevity's sake all these cleft and ternate, double cleft and quaternate cotyledons and even the higher grades are combined under one common name and indicated as tricotyls.

From Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation by Hugo de Vries

A species of cinquefoil, Potentilla Tormentilla, which is distinguished by its quaternate flowers, occurs in Holland in two distinct types, which have proved constant in my cultural experiments.

From Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation by Hugo de Vries

The European Venus' looking-glass was observed in my garden to produce some quaternate and some quinate flowers on the same specimens.

From Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation by Hugo de Vries

I have often seen isolated plants with quaternate leaves, but only rarely have I observed individuals with more than one such leaf.

From Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation by Hugo de Vries