1.7 Leaf shapes

Leaf shapes24

Cordate Deltoid Elliptic

Hastate

Oblong

Rhomboid Lanceolate

Ovate Linear

Reniform

Figure 1.7

Leaves

Shapes

Cordate: heart-shaped with a notched base Deltoid: shaped like an equilateral triangle Dissected: divided into narrow segments Elliptical: shaped like an oval, broadest in center Hastate: shaped like an arrowhead with outward-turned bottom lobes Keeled: with a ridge, like the keel of a boat Lanceolate: shape that is longer than wide, and widest below the center Linear: long and narrow shaped, with near-parallel sides Lobe: a rounded segment or division Oblanceolate: inversely lanceolate shape, longer than wide, attached at the narrowest end Oblong: shape that is longer than wide, sides near parallel Obovate: egg-shaped, attached at the narrow end Orbicular: approximately circular Ovate: egg-shaped, attached at the broadest end Palmate: lobed or divided at a single point like the fingers of a hand Pinnatifid: divided or lobed with parts arranged on opposite sides of the axis Pinnate: dissected with leaflets arranged on opposite sides of leaf axis Rhombic: diamond-shaped Succulent: juicy and fleshy

Measurements and abbreviations

ac: acres cm: centimeters ft: feet in: inches km2: square kilometers m: meters mm: millimeters p.: page pp.: pages pH: a number between 0–14 indicating a chemical’s alkalinity or acidity ppt: parts per thousand ssp: multiple species

Seeds

Achene: a small dry fruit with a single seed Apex: the tip Bracteole: a small bract enclosing the seeds of Atriplex species Capsule: a dry fruit, opening at maturity Coma: a seed with a tuft of hair Druplet: a small, fleshy fruit Follicle: a dry pod, opening along the side at maturity Keel: a prominent ridge along longest axis Lenticular: biconvex, lentil-shaped Nutlet: small, lobed, nut-like fruits Perigynia: scale-like bract enclosing the pistil in Carex species Schizocarp: a dry fruit that splits into segments at maturity Silicle: a dry fruit of Brassicaceae species, less than twice as long as wide, with two valves splitting at maturity Silique: a dry fruit, more than twice as long as wide, with two valves splitting at maturity; Brassicaceae fruit Tubercle: a small swelling or projection

Stems and roots

Ascending: growing upward, usually curved Caespitose (cespitose): growing in dense tufts Caudex: a persistent woody base Colonies: growing in groups connected by underground parts Creeping: growing along the surface or just below Culm: hollow or pithy stems of Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, and Poaceae species Decumbent: reclining on the ground but with the tip ascending Erect: vertical, straight Fibrous: roots system with branches of approximate equal thickness Node: section of stem from where leaves originate Pithy: spongy tissue Prostrate: growing flat along the ground Punctate: dotted with pits and/or sunken glands Rhizoid: a root-like structure Rhizome: thick, horizontal, underground stems Ribbed: surface with prominent veins, ribs, or ridges Scape: a long, leafless peduncle Spreading: growing or reaching horizontally Stipitate-glandular: surface with glands born on stalks Stolon: long, horizontal, creeping stem, rooting at nodes Taproot: main root axis from which small root branches arise Tuber: thickened portion of a rhizome bearing nodes and buds Tufted: growing in dense clusters Turion: small, over-wintering shoot