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. 

 Spa tulate, 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 

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

 ^ leaf forms. (Fig. 152.) 



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

 A 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 

 "W wild ginger are nearly reniform. 



Orbicular, circular in general outline. Very few leaves are 

 ^fe 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 



characteristic. The base may be III Decurrent 



rounded (Fig. 138), tapering (Fig. \|| mtdiein. 



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 



