LEAVES 



31 



broad end down ; and orbicular or round when nearly circular in 

 outline; ohlanceolate, the reverse in direction of tapering or 

 lanceolate ; ohovate, inversely ovate ; and cuneate or cuneiform 

 when wedge-shaped. These terms can be combined and varied 

 to describe thousands of differently shaped leaves (Figs. 16-21). 



48. Shapes of the base and the apex. — The base of the leaf is 

 cordate or heart-shaped when rounded and turned in, forming 

 a wide notch where the petiole is attached ; reniform or kidney- 

 shaped when notched like the last in 

 leaves broader than long. The apex is 

 acuminate, pointed, or taper-pointed 

 when prolonged into a gradual point; 

 acute when the sharp point is not pro- 

 longed; obtuse when the apex is blunt 

 or rounded ; truncate when the end is cut 

 off squarely; emarginate or notched 

 when indented at the end; and mucro- 

 nate when tipped with a small sharp 

 point (Figs. 16-21). 



49. Size and thickness of the leaf- 

 blade. — The size of the leaf-blade is a 

 very dependable character in identifying 

 varieties of any of the fruits. The King 

 apple has a large leaf -blade ; that of 

 Jonathan is small. The leaf of the El- 



berta peach is large in both dimensions ; that of Crosby is short 

 and narrow. The Italian prune may be told from the German in 

 orchard or nursery by its much larger leaves, a distinction of 

 importance since the one is often substituted for the other. So, 

 also, the Niagara grape is easily distinguished in the nursery by 

 its large leaf. These are but a few examples; any of the fruits 

 could furnish others. Environment makes much difference. 

 Poorly nourished plants in sod bear smaller leaves than well- 

 nourished ones under cultivation. Leaves fully exposed to the 

 sun are smaller than those which are less exposed. 



Thickness counts in classifying plums, grapes, and currants 

 in particular. In these fruits thickness and texture are usually 

 combined in such expressions as thick and soft, hard and 

 leathery, thin and membranaceom, thin and pliable. Mcintosh 



Fig. 21. 

 berry, 

 veined 



Leaf of goose- 

 P a 1 m a t e 1 y 

 five-lobed ; sin- 

 uses narrow : orbicular ; 

 coarsely crenate. 



