THE LEAF 235 
(a) GENERAL OurT.ine (form viewed as a whole without 
regard to indentations of margin). 
Linear, long, narrow, ribbon-like of nearly equal breadth 
throughout, as Linaria. 
Filiform, thread-like, as the Asparagus and one of the Sundews. 
Acerose or acicular, needle-like, as in the Pines. 
Subulate, awl-shaped, as in the Arbor Vitz. 
Ovate, egg-shaped, with its length not more than two or three 
times its breadth, as Boldo. 
Obovate, reversely ovate as some leaves of Short Buchu. 
Rhomboidal, angularly-ovate, as the Salt Bush. 
Lanceotate, like the linear with the exception that the broadest 
part is a little below the center. Example: Long Buchu. 
Elliptical, somewhat longer than wide, with rounded ends 
and sides. Example: Leaf of Pear. 
Oblong, when longer than broad, margins parallel. Example 
Matico. | 
Equilateral, margin of the same length on both sides. 
Inequilateral, margin longer on one side than the other, as the 
Hamamelis, Elm and Linden. 
Orbicular, the blade circular in shape. Example: Nasturtium. 
Reniform, or kidney-shaped, as the leaves of Canada Snakeroot. 
Oblanceolate, reversely lanceolate. Example: Chimaphila. 
Spatulate, like a spatula, with narrow base and broad rounded 
apex. Example: Some leaves of Uva Ursi. 
Ensiform, when shaped like a sword. Example: Calamus. _ 
Falcate, scythe- or sickle-shaped, as leaves on older branches of 
the Eucalyptus. 
Deltoid, when the shape of the Greek letter A, as Chenopodium. 
(b) Apex or Lear.—Acute, when the margins form an acute 
angle at the tip of the leaf giving the tip the appearance of a sharp 
point. Examples: Eriodictyon, Digitalis. 
Acuminate, when the point is longer and more tapering than - 
the acute. Examples: Pellitory, Coffee. 
Tapering, if the summit of the leaf be narrowed very grad- 
ually to a point, as in leaves of many grasses. 
Attenuate, if the summit is still more drawn out than the taper- 
ing type. 
