palmation

Palmation is a term that appears in a small number of writings to denote phenomena related to palms, either the palmar surface of the hand or the palms of plants. It does not have a single, universally accepted definition and is not widely standardized in major reference works.

In botanical usage, the standard term for leaf shapes is palmately lobed or palmate. Palmation is occasionally encountered in older or nonstandard writings as an informal way to describe leaf tissue that develops in a palm-like, radiating pattern from a common point. This usage is uncommon and not preferred by current botanical nomenclature.

In anatomy or medicine, palmation is not a formal diagnostic or anatomical term in contemporary medical usage. If it appears in historical or nontechnical sources, it may describe patterns or textures on the palmar surface, but such usage is rare and should be verified against the source.

Etymology and terminology: The word derives from Latin palma, meaning palm. It is related to palmate and palmar, but should not be treated as a synonym of either in scientific writing.

Notes: Because of limited standardization, palmation may be encountered inconsistently and should be clarified by consulting the specific source to determine how the author uses the term. See also palmate, palmar, and related leaf or hand morphology terms.