SHAPES OF LEAVES 99 



Lanceolate, four to six times longer than broad, widest 



V below the middle and tapering to each end. Some of 

 the narrow-leaved willows are examples. Most of 

 the willows and the peach have oblong-lanceolate 

 leaves. 

 Spatulate, a narrow leaf that is broadest toward the apex. 



\The top is usually rounded. It is much like an oblong 

 leaf. 

 Ovate, shaped somewhat like the longitudinal section of 



an egg: twice as long as broad, tapering from near 



the base to the apex. This is one of the commonest 



leaf forms. (Fig. 152.) 

 Obovate, ovate inverted, the wide part toward the apex. 



Leaflets of horse-chestnut are obovate. This form is 



commonest in leaflets of digitate leaves. 

 Reniform, kidney-shaped. This form is sometimes seen in 



wild plants, particularly in root-leaves. Leaves of 



wild ginger are nearly reniform. 

 Orbicular; circular in general outline. Very few leaves are 



perfectly circular, but there are many kinds that are 



nearer circular than any other 

 shape. (Fig. 153.) 



The shape of many leaves is 

 described in combinations of these 

 terms, as ovate-lanceolate, lanceo- 

 late-oblong. 



211. The shape of the base and 



apex of the leaf or leaflet is often 147 



characteristic. The base may be Decurrent 



rounded (Fig. 138), tapering (Fig. 



127), cordate or heart-shaped (Fig. 



152), truncate or squared as if cut 



off. The apex may be blunt or obtuse, acute or sharp, 



acuminate or long-pointed, truncate (Fig. 154). 



212. The shape of the margin is also characteristic of 



