|
Northern Ontario Plant Database
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 >>
|