58 



MOEPHOLOaY, OR COMPAKATIVE ANATOMY. 



end nearest to the stalk (fig. 74) ; lanceolate or lance-shaped (fig. 75) ; 

 reniform or kidney-shaped (fig. 79); rhomboidal ; triangular; or the 

 reverse of this, cuneate or wedge-shaped (fig. 88) ; deltoid ; spatulate or 

 spatula-shaped (fig. 80) ; ensiform or sword-shaped (as in the Garden- 

 flag) ; linear, a long narrow form with parallel margins (fig. 81) ; subu- 

 late or awl-shaped, a slender, short linear form soon ending in a point 

 (fig. 82) ; acerose, needle-shaped and rigid (Pines, Juniper, &c.). 



Fig. 83. 



Fig. 79. 



Fig. 79. A reniform crenate leaf. Fig. 81. A linear leaf. 



Fig. 80. A spathulate leaf. Fig. 82. A subulate leaf. 



Fig. 83. An obliquely cordate, serrate, and acuminate leaf. 



Sometimes the forms are intermediate between some of the foregoing, 

 in which case two of the terms are combined, such as ovate-lanceolate, 

 signifying a leaf broader than lanceolate, and with the lower half wider, 

 as in ovate ; linear-lanceolate, a long and narrow lance-shaped blade, and 

 so on. The term oblique is applied to leaves where the portions on either 

 side of the midrib are unequal, as in the Begonias, Lime, Elm, &c. 

 (fig. 83). 



Base of the Leaf. Special terms are also required to describe the 

 character of the base of the leaf. Thus, sagittate or arrow-shaped (fig. 76) ; 

 hastate or dart-shaped (fig. 77) ; cordate, the shape of a heart on playing- 

 cards, with the broad end nearest to the stalk (fig. 78) ; obcordate, the 

 same shape, with the point attached to the stalk (fig. 108) ; cordate at the 

 base may be added to ovate, elliptical, or other form, where this condition 

 exists ; if a sessile leaf has a cordate base, it becomes auriculate or eared 

 (fig. 84) when the borders are free, amplexicaul or clasping if they adhere 

 to the stem. The last form is a transition to the decurrent state. 

 When the posterior lobes of a sessile leaf extend round the stem com- 

 pletely and become confluent on the other side, the stem appears to run 

 through the leaf, and the leaves are called per foliate (fig. 85) j when the 

 basilar lobes of a pair of opposite leaves cohere on each side, so as to pro- 

 duce a similar condition, the leaves are termed connate (fig. 86). Some- 

 times the blade is gradually narrowed towards the petiole, and becomes 

 attenuated at the base ; when the blade passes still more gradually into a 

 broad- winged stalk, a spatulate form results. 



