FORMS OF THE BASE 



183 



acumination is preceded by an abrupt contraction, it is distinguished as 

 bein g Abrupt ly Acuminate (Figs. 511 and 513). 



If the narrowing be very gradual and not preceded by an abrupt 

 contraction, the apex is said to b e Taperin g (Fig. 514); if still more 

 drawn out. Attenuate.. If the point of the leaf be extremely abrupt 

 and very small, it is Mucronate when soft and herbaceous. Cuspidate 

 when hard and stiff, like a tooth. 



Fig. 516. Digitalis leaf, with produced base, rounded apex, reticulate venation. 517. Apiculato 

 apex. 518. Cuneate base (white-oak). 519. Cordate and produced base (violet). 520. Sagittale 

 base (Polygonum) . 621. Auriculate base (Aster). 522. Hastate base (Rumex). 523. Oblique base 

 (Datura) > 



Any of the above-mentioned forms may be either Acute, when the 

 ultimate apex is sharp (Figs. 508, 510, and 514), Obtuse w hen not so 

 (Figs. 511 and 513), Blunt when very obtuse (Fig. 515), or even Rounded 

 (Fig. 516). 



A leaf which has the midrib only extended into a bristle-shaped 

 point is called Apiculate (Fig. 517), and this condition can apply to a 

 cordate as well as to other forms of the apex. 



Forms of the Base. — The special forms of the base of the leaf-blade 

 yield a correspondingly large number of terms. The terms cordate, 

 truncate, rounded, blunt, obtuse, acute, acuminate, and abruptly 



