head image
filler Home button Advanced search Herberia Partners Herbaria team members Herberia links Contact
family select
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


genus select
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


search



leaf What is an Herbarium?

leaf Genus Descriptions

leaf Species Descriptions

leaf Ontario FEC V-Types

leaf Bibliography

leaf Terminology

leaf Who Collects the Plants?

leaf Collector Biographies

leaf Nomenclature Primer

leaf Website Information

Northern Ontario Plant Database

leafleaf

Leaf Shapes


The width of each basic leaf shapes can be described as narrowly- or widely-, depending on the degree of modification from the standard shapes. Plants with leaves that have more than one shape are called heterophyllous.



  • Linear - long and narrow, with essentially parallel margins.
  • Lanceolate - widest below the middle of the blade and 3 to 6 times as long as wide.
  • Ovate - widest below the middle of the blade and about 1.5 to 2 as long as wide.
  • Elliptic - widest at the middle of the blade, with curved margins and pointed apex and base.
  • Oblong - rectangular, with nearly parallel margins, about 2 times as long as wide.
  • Oval - widest at the middle of the blade, with curved margins and rounded apex and base.


  • Rhombic - diamond-shaped, widest at the middle and with straight margins.
  • Deltoid - triangular, shaped roughly like an equilateral triangle.
  • Oblanceolate - reverse lanceolate, widest above the middle of the blade.
  • Spatulate - spoon-shaped, basically oblanceolate, but with a narrow (attenuate) base.
  • Obovate - reverse ovate, widest above the middle of the blade.
  • Orbicular - circular, with rounded sides.
More Shapes >>
Last Modified: