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, 06:46, 28 March 2007
[[Image:Leaf_morphology_no_title.png|thumb|right|Chart illustrating leaf morphology terms]]
[[Image:Cordate leaf.JPG|thumb|right|cordate leaf]]
[[Image:Elliptical leaf.JPG|thumb|right|elliptic leaf]]
[[Image:Deltoid leaf.JPG|thumb|right|deltoid leaf]]
In [[botany]], the following terms are used to describe the '''shape of plant [[leaf|leaves]]''':
* Acicular (''acicularis''): Slender and pointed, needle-like
* Acuminate (''acuminata''): Tapering to a long point
* Aristate (''aristata''): Ending in a stiff, bristle-like point
* Bipinnate (''bipinnata''): Each leaflet also pinnate
* Cordate (''cordata''): Heart-shaped, stem attaches to cleft
* Cuneate (''cuneata''): Triangular, stem attaches to point
* Deltoid (''deltoidea''): Triangular, stem attaches to side
* Digitate (''digitata''): Divided into finger-like lobes
* Elliptic (''elliptica''): Oval, with a short or no point
* Falcate (''falcata''): sickle-shaped
* Flabellate (''flabellata''): Semi-circular, or fan-like
* Hastate (''hastata''): shaped like a spear point, with flaring pointed lobes at the base
* Lance-shaped, lanceolate (''lanceolata''): Long, wider in the middle
* Linear (''linearis''): Long and very narrow
* Lobed (''lobata''): With several points
* Obcordate (''obcordata''): Heart-shaped, stem attaches to tapering point
* Oblanceolate (''oblanceolata''): Top wider than bottom
* Oblong (''oblongus''): Having an elongated form with slightly parallel sides
* Obovate (''obovata''): Teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to tapering point
* Obtuse (''obtusus''): With a blunt tip
* Orbicular (''orbicularis''): Circular
* Ovate (''ovata''): Oval, egg-shaped, with a tapering point
* Palmate (''palmata''): Divided into many lobes
* Pedate (''pedata''): Palmate, with cleft lobes
* Peltate (''peltata''): Rounded, stem underneath
* Perfoliate (''perfoliata''): Stem through the leaves
* [[Pinnate]] (''pinnata''): Two rows of leaflets
**odd-pinnate : pinnate with a terminal leaflet
**paripinnate, even-pinnate : pinnate lacking a terminal leaflet
* Pinnatisect (''pinnatifida''): Cut, but not to the midrib (it would be pinnate then)
* Reniform (''reniformis''): Kidney-shaped
* Rhomboid (''rhomboidalis''): Diamond-shaped
* Round (''rotundifolia''): Circular
* Sagittate (''sagittata''): Arrowhead-shaped
* Spatulate, spathulate (''spathulata''): Spoon-shaped
* Spear-shaped (''hastata''): Pointed, with barbs
* Subulate (''subulata''): [[Awl]]-shaped with a tapering point
* Sword-shaped (''ensiformis''): Long, thin, pointed
* Trifoliate, ternate (''trifoliata''): Divided into three leaflets
* Tripinnate (''tripinnata''): Pinnately compound in which each leaflet is itself bipinnate
* Truncate (''truncata''): With a squared off end
* Unifoliate (''unifoliata''): with a single leaf
[[Category: plant morphology]]