Illustration of terms applying to leaf shape, arrangement, margin, and venation
Items in the glossary should be listed lower-case with a Heading three tag ===like this=== so that they can be referenced using the G template. {{G}} takes one, unnamed parameter to create a link to the desired heading on this page. For example {{G|rhizome}} creates the following code [[Glossary#rhizome]] which creates a link like this rhizome.
A[]
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acicular[]
needle-shaped
acuminate[]
tapering to a long point
alternate[]
leaves arranged alternately, coming from nodes on opposite sides of the stem, with one leaf per node
arcuate[]
with secondary veins bending toward the apex
aristate[]
with a spine-like tip
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B[]
basal rosette[]
A circular arrangement of leaves growing out of the ground as if not having any stem. Often seen in many perennial perennial or biannual plants whose upper foliage dies back with the remaining vegetation protecting the plant. (see also rosette)
bipinnate[]
pinnate but with the leaflets also pinnate
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C[]
ciliate[]
with fine hairs
cordate[]
heart-shaped with the stem in the cleft of the heart (see also obcordate)
crenate[]
with rounded teeth
cross-venualte[]
with small veins connecting secondary veins
cuneate[]
wedge-shaped, acute at base
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D[]
deltoid[]
triangular
dentate[]
with symmetrical teeth
denticulate[]
finely dentate
dichotomous[]
having veins branching symmetrically in pairs
digitate[]
with finger-like lobes
doubly serrate[]
serrate with sub-teeth
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E[]
elliptic[]
oval-shaped, small or no point
entire[]
even and smooth throughout, with no lobes or teeth
even pinnate[]
pinnately compound leaf with leaflets in rows, ending with two leaves at the tip
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F[]
falcate[]
hooked or sickle-shaped
flabellate[]
fan-shaped
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H[]
hastate[]
triangular with basal lobes
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L[]
lance-shaped[]
see lanceolate
lanceolate[]
Long, pointed at both ends, wider in the middle (see oblanceolate for opposite)
linear[]
parallel margins, elongate
lobate[]
indented margins but not to midline
lobed[]
having deeply indented margins
longitudinal[]
veins aligned mostly along leaf axis
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O[]
obcordate[]
Heart-shaped, stem attaches to tapering point (see cordate for opposite)
oblanceolate[]
long, lance-shaped with the top wider than the bottom (see lanceolate
obovate[]
egg-shaped, narrow at base (see ovate for opposite)
obtuse[]
bluntly tipped
odd pinnate[]
pinnately compound leaf with leaflets in rows, ending with one leaf at the tip
opposite[]
growing in adjacent pairs, from the same node
orbicular[]
circular
ovate[]
egg-shaped, wide at base (see obovate for opposite)
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P[]
palmate[]
Hand-shaped. Regarding leaf margin: indicating lobes that create a hand shape. Regarding veins: with several primary veins diverging from a point to make a hand-like shape.
parallel[]
veins arranged axially and not intersecting
pedate[]
foot-shaped (not necessarily like a human foot)
peltate[]
stem attached centrally
perfoliate[]
stem seeming to pierce leafe
pinnate[]
- regarding veins: with secondary veins, paired oppositely off a mid-rib
- regarding compound leaves: with secondary leaves or leafstalks growing opposite off a main stalk
pinnatisect[]
deep, opposite lobing
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R[]
reniform[]
kidney-shaped
reticulate[]
smaller veins forming a network
rhizome[]
A perennial underground stem usually growing horizontally and sending out roots and shoots from its nodes. An under-ground runner, sometimes called creeping rootstalks or merely rootstalks.
rhomboid[]
diamond-shaped
rosette[]
leaves in tight, circular rings (see also basal rosette
rotate[]
in peltate leaves, with veins radiating
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S[]
serrate[]
toothed with teeth pointing forward
serrulate[]
finely serrated
sinuate[]
with wave-like indentations
spatualte[]
spoon-shaped
spear-shaped[]
pointed, barbed at base
spiny[]
with sharp, stiff points
stolon[]
A slender, prostrate or trailing stem, producing roots and sometimes erect shoots at its nodes. An above-ground runner.
subulate[]
tapering point, awl-shaped
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T[]
ternate[]
see trifolate
trifoliate[]
leaflets in threes
tripinnate[]
leaflets also pinnate
truncate[]
squared off at apex
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U[]
undulate[]
widely wavy
unifoliate[]
having a single leaf
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W[]
whorl[]
Three or more leaves or branches or pedicels arising from the same node