OF LEAVES. 
51 
a mid-rib with some lateral divisions, you have, as at 6, the repre- 
sentation of an ovate leaf. If the petiole were placed at the narrow- 
est end, it would be an obovate leaf An ovhl leaf (c,) is when both 
the ends are of equal breadth. When the length is much greater 
than the breadth, the leaf is said to be ellipt ical^ as at d. 
Lanceolate : this 
kind of leaf may be 
seen in the peach- 
tree ; it is represent- 
ed at Fig. 40, a ; this 
is acuminate, with a 
serrulated or slightly 
notched margin ; at 
b, may be seen the 
cleft stipules or ap- 
pendages of the leaf. 
Linear^ as the 
grasses and Indian 
corn ; Fig. 40, c, re- 
presents a leaf of this 
kind ; it is sheathing, 
or encloses the stem 
by its base, as may 
be seen at d. 
Deltoid, from the Greek letter, delta A ; this kind of leaf is repre- 
sented at e, Fig. 40 j the Lombardy poplar affords an example of the 
same. 
Sagittate (from 
sagitta an arrow,) 
or arrow-shaped 
leaf; this is repre- 
sented at a, Fig. 41 ; 
the Sagittaria, an 
aquatic plant, af- 
fords an example of 
this leaf 
Acerose, or needle- 
shaped ; this is re- 
presented at b, Fig. 
41. Leaves of this 
kind are mostly 
clustered together, 
as in the pine ; they 
are sitbtdate, or 
pointed hke a shoe- 
maker's awl ; they 
are rigid and ever- 
green. 
Trees with ace- 
rose leaves, are 
usually natives of 
mountainous or northern regions; any other kind of leaves would, 
in these situations, be overpowered by the weight of snow, or the 
violence of tempests; but these- admit the snow and wind through 
Elliptical— Lanceolate— Linear- Sagittate— Acerose. 
