THE LEAF. 



EXERCISE IV. 

 The Figures of Leaves. 



When the blades of feather-veined leaves are unequally 

 developed on the two sides of the midrib, they are said to 

 be oblique (Figs. 24, 25). When narrow and of nearly the 

 same breadth at base and apex, with parallel margins, the 

 leaf is linear (Fig. 26) ; and if ending in a sharp, rigid 

 point, it is acerose, or needle-shaped (Fig. 28). When very 

 narrow, and tapering from the base to a fine point, it is 

 subulate, or awl-shaped. When broadest at the center, and 

 three or more times as long as broad, tapering both ways, 

 it is lanceolate (Fig. 27). When longer than broad, and 

 slightly acute at base and apex, it is oval, or elliptical (Fig. 

 34). If obtuse at base and apex, as in 

 Fig. 31, it is oblong. When a leaf is 

 broader at the rounded base than at the 

 apex, as in Fig. 32, it is ovate, or egg- 

 shaped. If of the same figure, but broad- 

 er at apex, it is obovate (Fig. 33). Fig. 



FIG. 



FIG. 35. 



FIG. 36. 



29 shows a cuneate or wedge-shaped leaf. It is broad and 

 abrupt-pointed at apex, and tapers toward the base. Fig. 

 35 shows a spatulate leaf, with its broad, rounded apex, 

 and its sudden tapering at the base, 



Cordate or heart-shaped leaves (Fig. 30) have an acute 

 apex, with their broad, round base hollowed out into two 

 iobes. Wlien this form is reversed, as in Fig. 36, we have 



