APEX OF THE LEAF. 



85 



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P.g.^'S 



f^g.*U2 



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mately triangular, is called Deltoid (Fig. 

 413). One still narrower, but of similar 

 form, bearing the same relation to the 

 lanceolate which the deltoid does to the 

 ovate, is called Subulate, or Awl-shaped 

 (Fig. 414). An ovate or oval leaf whose 

 outline instead of being regularly curved 

 is made up of four comparatively straight 

 lines, Is called Trapezoidal or Angularly- 

 ovate. Another term which is applied to 

 it is Rhomboidal (Fig. 415), 



Most of the forms just referred to are 

 paralleled by exactly similar forms in 

 which the widest portion is above the 

 middle. The names for these are formed 

 by prefixing the syllable o6 to the corre- 

 sponding name of the other form; as, Ob- 

 ovate (Fig. 416), Oblanceolate (Fig. 417), 

 and so on. When an Obovate or Ob- 

 lanceolate leaf possesses a broad, round- 

 ed apex, and a somewhat elongated lower 

 portion, it is called Spatulate (Fig. 418). 



The outline of a leaf is greatly modified 

 when the portion upon one side of the 

 midrib is longer or broader than that 



upon the other, giving us Inequilateral, 

 Unequal or Oblique forms (Fig. 419). 

 When such a leaf has its midrib laterally 

 curved it is styled Falcate or Sword- 

 ihaped (Fig. 420). Modifications of this 



as regards the comparative length and 

 breadth of the leaf are Sickle-shaped, 

 Scimeter-shaped, and so on. 



A large number of terms are employed 

 to indicate especially the form of the 

 apex of the leaf. Beginning with one 

 which is inversely cordate — that is, with 

 the sinus at the apex — we have the Ob- 

 cordate form (Fig. 421), When the sinus 

 is smaller it is called Emarginate (Fig. 

 422), and when very slight, Retuse (Fig. 

 423), If the sinus be an angular one 

 with straight sides, it is called Notched 

 (Fig. 424). If the apex be abruptly te^ 

 minated, as though cut across in a 

 straight line, it is called Truncate. If 

 any portion of the apex of the leaf be 

 narrowed into a point, the leaf is called 

 Pointed (Fig. 425). If such narrowing 

 be gradual, so that the point is consider- 

 ably longer than broad, even though it be 

 preceded by an abrupt narrowing, it is 

 called Acuminate. If the acumination is 

 preceded by an abrupt narrowing, then it 



r.cr.^20. 



