8 



middle ; emarginate, if the depression is sharp ; 

 acute or sharp-pointed, if it is sharp so that the 

 two margins form an acute-angle ; acuminate 

 or taper -pointed, if the point is very long and 

 tapering ; mucronate, if it is rounded and bears 

 at the top a pointed process ; truncate, if it 

 seems to be cut across. 



Shape. The following are the common terms 

 used in descriptions to express the general out- 

 lines of fronds or the parts of fronds. [Plate 

 III.-C. and Plate IV.] They are said to be 

 acicular when they are needle-shaped ; linear, if 

 they are narrow with the two margins parallel ; 

 subulate or awl-shaped, if equally narrow but 

 tapering to a very fine point ; lanceolate or 

 lance-shaped, if elongated and gradually taper- 

 ing towards the base and apex ; oval or ellipti- 

 cal, if like the last but relatively shorter and 

 broader ; oblong, if of much the same breadth 

 but rounded at the base and apex ; ovate or 

 egg-shaped, if broadest and rounded off towards 

 the base and pointed towards the apex ; obovate, 

 if just the reverse of ovate ; cordate, if pointed 

 at the apex and broad and notched at the base 

 (this term is often applied to a frond or part 

 of a frond if simply the base is notched) ; 

 obcordate, if just the reverse of cordate ; rent- 



