palmatum
/pal-MAH-tum/🏷️ Taxonomy● Basic
Also known as: palmatus, palmata
A leaf-shape epithet describing foliage whose lobes or leaflets radiate from one central point like the fingers of an open hand, and the neuter form used where the genus is neuter. It is among the most familiar epithets in ornamental horticulture. Appears as palmatus (masculine), palmata (feminine), or palmatum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin palma, meaning "palm of the hand."
Example
“Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) is the best-known example, its hand-shaped leaves taking the neuter ending the genus requires.”