60 MORPHOLOGY OF LEAVES AS FOLIAGE. [LESSON 8. 



kidney-shaped (Fig. 100) or other rounded leaf, with the margins at 

 the base brought together and united. 



153. As to the Apex, the following terms express the principal 

 variations. 



Acuminate, pointed, or taper-pointed, when the summit is more or 

 less prolonged into a narrowed or tapering point, as in Fig. 97. 



Acute, when ending in an acute angle or not prolonged point, as 

 in Fig. 104, 98, 95, &c. 



Obtuse, when with a blunt or rounded point, as in Fig. 105, 89, &c. 



Truncate, with the end as if cut off square, as in Fig. 106, 94. 



Retuse, with the rounded summit slightly indented, forming a 

 very shallow notch, as in Fig. 107. 



Emarginate, or notched, indented at the end more decidedly, as 

 in Fig. 108. 



Obcordate, that is, inversely heart-shaped, where an obovate leaf 

 is more deeply notched at the end (Fig. 109), as in White Clover and 

 Wood-sorrel ; so as to resemble a cordate leaf (Fig. 99) inverted. 



Cuspidate, tipped with a sharp and rigid point ; as in Fig. 110. 



Mucronate, abruptly tipped with a small and short point, like a 

 projection of the midrib ; as in Fig. 111. 



Aristate, awn-pointed, and bristle-pointed, are terms used when this 

 mucronate point is extended into a longer bristle-form or other 

 slender appendage. 



The first six of these terms can be applied to the lower as well as 

 to the upper end of a leaf or other organ. The others belong to 

 the apex only. 



FIG. 103 - 111. Forms of the apex of leaves. 



