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glossary of plant terms
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alternate - an arrangement of leaves (or buds) on a stem (or twig) in which the leaves emerge from the stem one at a time.  This often makes the leaves appear to alternate on the stem.

compare with opposite

alternate leaf arrangement on an Ulmus alata (winged elm) twig  hires

alternately arranged leaf petioles on a Gymnocladus dioica (Kentucky coffeetree) twig  hires

alternate buds on a Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore) twig  hires

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