SECTION 7.] 



ORDINARY LEAVES. 



53 



Obovate (Fig. 123) or inversely ovate, that is, ovate with the narrower 

 end down. 



Cuneate or Cuneiform, that is, 

 Wedge-shaped (Fig. 124), broad 

 above and tapering by nearly 

 straight lines to an acute angle at 

 the base. 



136. As to the Base, its shape 

 characterizes several forms, such as 

 Cordate or Heart-shaped (Fig. 

 120, 129), when a leaf of an ovate form, or something like it, has the out- 

 line of its rounded base 

 turned in (forming a 

 notch or sinus) where the 

 stalk is attached. 



Reniform, or Kidney- 

 shaped (Fig. 131), like 

 the last, only rounder and 

 broader than long. 



Auriculate, or Eared, 

 having a pair of small 

 125 126 127 and blunt projections, or 



ears, at the base, as in one species of Magnolia (Fig. 126). 



Sagittate, or arrow-shaped, 

 where such ears are acute 

 and turned downwards, 

 while the main body of the 

 blade tapers upwards to a 

 point, as in the common 

 Sagittaria or Arrow-head, 

 and in the Arrow-leaved 

 Polygonum (Fig. 125). 

 Hastate, or Halberd-shaped, 

 when such lobes at the base 

 point outwards, giving the 

 shape of the halberd of the 

 olden time, as in another 

 Polygonum (Fig. 127). 



Peltate, or Shield-shaped (Fig. 132), is the name applied to a curious 

 modification of the leaf, commonly of a rounded form, where the footstalk 

 is attached to the lower surface, instead of the base, and therefore is natu- 



Fig. 121, oblanceolate ; 122, spatulate ; 123, obovate ; and 124, wedge-shaped, 

 feather-veined, leaves. 

 Fig. 125, sagittate ; 126, auriculate ; and 127, halberd-shaped or hastate leaves. 

 Fig. 128-132. Various forms of radiate-veined leaves. 



