The External Form of Plants. 97 
in the former, very obtuse-angled in the latter case. In the | 
peltate leaf (Fig. 162), the petiole springs from the middle of 
~ the lamina [as in Hydrocotyle or Tropeolum|. 
In describing the form of the base of the leaf, z.¢. of the © 
' part of it which is attached to the stem or petiole, some 
of the same terms are applicable as those already defined ; 
as, for example, cordate, reniform, hastate, &c. There are 
some others also inuse. Thus the base may be cuneate or 
wedge-shaped (Fig. 163), when it passes gradually into the 
Fic. 163. —Cuneate Fic.164.—Acuminate Fic. 165. —Spathu- Fic. 166.—Mu- 
leaflet from the leaf leaf of the pellitory, late leaf of the ox- cronate leaflet 
ofthe horse-chestnut. Parzetaria, eye daisy, Chrys- of the lucerne 
anthentumue leucan- (magnified). 
theming. 
petiole; and the sfathulate leaf (Fig. 165) is somewhat 
similar [as in the London pride, Saxifraga umbrosa|. The 
apex of the leaf also often requires special description. It 
is obtuse, acute, acuminate [when the apex narrows rapidly 
and lengthens into a point] (Fig. 164), mucronate (Fig. 166) 
~ [when ending abruptly in a short sharp point,] ¢runcatz 
[as in the tulip-tree, Leriodendron|, emarginate (Fig. 167) 
| when indented at the apex], or odcordate (Fig. 157, p. 95): 
In but comparatively few cases is the lamina entirely 
H 
ar 
{ 
