sb. pl. [pl. of L. folium leaf.]
1. Bot. In Latin sense: Leaves (of a plant).
1730–6. Bailey (folio), Folia [in Botany], the leaves of plants and flowers, but more properly of plants.
1861. J. R. Greene, Man. Anim. Kingd., Cœlent., 191. Many species spread out in broad leaves or folia, and resemble some large-leaved plant just unfolding.
2. Laminæ or thin layers.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 155. Fracture, undulatingly foliated, or the folia exceedingly thin, and discovering rugosities; often also slaty.
1854. J. D. Hooker, Himalayan Journals, I. xvii. 408. The narrow, often zigzag folia of quartz remain quite entire and undisturbed.
1882. Geikie, Text-bk. Geol., II. II. § 3. 88. Foliated, consisting of minerals that have crystallized in approximately parallel lenticular and usually wavy layers or folia.
