Dypsis Lutescens

by | Feb 6, 2019 | Dypsis Lutescens

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500px Leaf morphology.svg - Dypsis Lutescens
Chart illustrating leaf morphology terms

The following terms are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade is divided into two or more leaflets).[1] The edge of the leaf may be regular or irregular, and may be smooth or have hair, bristles, or spines. For more terms describing other aspects of leaves besides their overall morphology see the leaf article.

The terms listed here all are supported by technical and professional usage, but they cannot be represented as mandatory or undebatable; readers must use their judgement. Authors often use terms arbitrarily, or coin them to taste, possibly in ignorance of established terms, and it is not always clear whether because of ignorance, or personal preference, or because usages change with time or context, or because of variation between specimens, even specimens from the same plant.[citation needed] For example, whether to call leaves on the same tree "acuminate", "lanceolate", or "linear" could depend on individual judgement, or which part of the tree one collected them from. The same cautions might apply to "caudate", "cuspidate", and "mucronate", or to "crenate", "dentate", and "serrate".

Another problem is to establish definitions that meet all cases or satisfy all authorities and readers. For example, it seems altogether reasonable to define a mucro as "a small sharp point as a continuation of the midrib", but it may not be clear how small is small enough, how sharp is sharp enough, how hard the point must be, and what to call the point when one cannot tell whether the leaf has a midrib at all. Various authors or field workers might come to incompatible conclusions, or might try to compromise by qualifying terms so vaguely that a description of a particular plant practically loses its value.

Use of these terms is not restricted to leaves, but may be applied to morphology of other parts of plants, e.g. bracts, bracteoles, stipules, sepals, petals, carpels or scales. Some of these terms are also used for similar-looking anatomical features on animals.

Leaf structure

Leaves of most plants include a flat structure called the blade or lamina supported by a network of veins, a petiole and a leaf base;[1] but not all leaves are flat, some are cylindrical.[citation needed] Leaves may be simple, with a single leaf blade, or compound, with several leaflets. Compound leaves may be pinnate with pinnae (leaflets) on both sides of a rachis (axis), or may be palmate with multiple leaflets arising from a single point.[1] Leaf structure is described by several terms that include:

250px Bipinnate leaf anatomy with alternate labels - Dypsis Lutescens
Bipinnate leaf anatomy with labels showing alternative usages
Leaf morphology type ternately compound palmate ternate sessile - Dypsis Lutescens
A ternate compound leaf with a petiole but no rachis (or rachillae)
Image Term Latin Description
120px Leaf morphology Bifoliolate - Dypsis Lutescens bifoliolate Having two leaflets[2]
geminate
jugate
120px Leaf morphology Bigeminate - Dypsis Lutescens bigeminate Having two leaflets, each leaflet being bifoliolate
120px Leaf morphology bipinnate - Dypsis Lutescens bipinnate bipinnatus The leaflets are themselves pinnately-compound; twice pinnate[1] see imparipinnate and paripinnate
120px Leaf morphology Biternate - Dypsis Lutescens biternate With three components, each with three leaflets[1]
120px Leaf morphology odd pinnate - Dypsis Lutescens imparipinnate With an odd number of leaflets, pinnate with a terminal leaflet (the opposite of paripinnate)[1]
odd-pinnate
120px Leaf morphology even pinnate - Dypsis Lutescens paripinnate Pinnate with an even number of leaflets, lacking a terminal leaflet (the opposite of imparipinnate)[1]
even-pinnate
120px Leaf morphology Palmately compound - Dypsis Lutescens palmately compound palmatus Consisting of leaflets all radiating from one point
120px Leaf morphology Acute - Dypsis Lutescens simple Leaf blade in one continuous section, without leaflets (not compound)[1]
120px Leaf morphology trifoliolate - Dypsis Lutescens ternate ternatus With three leaflets[1]
trifoliate trifoliatus
trifoliolate trifoliolatus
120px Leaf morphology tripinnate - Dypsis Lutescens tripinnate tripinnatus Pinnately compound in which each leaflet is itself bipinnate[1]

Leaf and leaflet shapes

Being one of the more visible features, leaf shape is commonly used for plant identification. Similar terms are used for other plant parts, such as petals, tepals, and bracts.

250px Cilantro leaf - Dypsis Lutescens
Oddly pinnate, pinnatifid leaves (Coriandrum sativum, coriander or cilantro)
250px Hibiscus mutabilis 5 - Dypsis Lutescens
Partial chlorosis revealing palmate venation in simple leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis
Image Term Latin Refers principally to Description
120px Leaf morphology acicular - Dypsis Lutescens acicular acicularis whole leaf Slender and pointed, needle-like
120px Leaf morphology acuminate - Dypsis Lutescens acuminate acuminatus leaf tip Tapering to a long point in a concave manner
120px Leaf morphology Acute - Dypsis Lutescens acute leaf tip or base Pointed, having a short sharp apex angled less than 90°
120px Leaf morphology Apiculate - Dypsis Lutescens apiculate apiculatus leaf tip Tapering and ending in a short, slender point
120px Leaf morphology aristate - Dypsis Lutescens aristate aristatus leaf tip Ending in a stiff, bristle-like point
asymmetrical whole leaf With the blade shape different on each side of the midrib
120px Leaf morphology Attenuate - Dypsis Lutescens attenuate attenuatus leaf base Having leaf tissue taper down the petiole to a narrow base and always having some leaf material on each side of the petiole
120px Leaf morphology base auriculate %28cropped%29 - Dypsis Lutescens auriculate auriculatus leaf base Having ear-shaped appendages reaching beyond the attachment to the petiole or stem (in case of a seated leaf)
120px Leaf morphology Caudate - Dypsis Lutescens caudate caudatus leaf tip Tailed at the apex
cirrus, cirrate leaf tip Having a rachis that extends beyond the leaf blade or leaflets into a long whip-like extension or cirrus (common in climbing palms); antonym: ecirrate
120px Leaf morphology cordate - Dypsis Lutescens cordate, cordiform cordatus whole leaf or base Heart-shaped, with the petiole or stem attached to the notch
120px Leaf morphology cuneate - Dypsis Lutescens cuneate cuneatus leaf base Triangular, wedge-shaped, stem attaches to point
cuneiform whole leaf Narrowly triangular, widest on the opposite end from the stem, with the corners at that end rounded
120px Handdrawn Cuspidate - Dypsis Lutescens cuspidate cuspidatus leaf tip With a sharp, elongated, rigid tip; tipped with a cusp
120px Leaf morphology deltoid - Dypsis Lutescens deltoid, deltate deltoideus whole leaf Shaped like the Greek letter delta; triangular with stem attached to side
120px Leaf morphology digitate - Dypsis Lutescens digitate digitatus whole leaf A palmately compound leaf with leaflets, similar to palmate[3]
ecirrate leaf tip Without a cirrus; antonym: cirrate
120px Leaf morphology elliptic - Dypsis Lutescens elliptic ellipticus whole leaf Shaped like an ellipse (widest at mid-blade and with similar convex tapering towards apex and base), with a short or no point
120px Leaf morphology apex emarginate - Dypsis Lutescens emarginate emarginatus leaf tip Slightly indented at the tip
120px Leaf morphology ensiforme - Dypsis Lutescens ensiform ensiformis whole leaf Shaped like a sword; long and narrow with a sharp pointed tip
120px Leaf morphology falcate - Dypsis Lutescens falcate falcatus whole leaf Sickle-shaped
120px Leaf morphology Fenestrate - Dypsis Lutescens fenestrate fenestratus leaf surface features Large openings through the leaf; see perforate; sometimes used to describe leaf epidermal windows
100px Plant morphology solid filiform - Dypsis Lutescens filiform filiformis whole leaf Thread- or filament-shaped
120px Leaf morphology flabelate - Dypsis Lutescens flabellate flabellatus whole leaf Semi-circular or fan-like
120px Leaf morphology hastate - Dypsis Lutescens hastate hastatus whole leaf or base Spear-shaped: pointed, with barbs, shaped like a spear point, with flaring pointed lobes at the base
120px Leaf morphology division laciniate - Dypsis Lutescens laciniate lacinatus whole leaf Very deeply lobed with the lobes being very drawn out and often making the leaf look somewhat like a branch or a pitchfork
laminar 3-D shape Flat (like most leaves)
120px Leaf morphology lanceolate - Dypsis Lutescens lanceolate lanceolatus whole leaf Long, wider in the middle, shaped like a lance tip
120px Leaf morphology linear - Dypsis Lutescens linear linearis whole leaf Long and very narrow like a blade of grass
120px Leaf morphology lobed - Dypsis Lutescens lobed lobatus whole leaf Being divided by clefts; may be pinnately lobed or palmately lobed
120px Leaf morphology Lorate - Dypsis Lutescens lorate loratus whole leaf Having the form of a thong or strap
120px Leaf morphology Lyrate - Dypsis Lutescens lyrate lyratus whole leaf Shaped like a lyre, pinnately lobed leaf with an enlarged terminal lobe and smaller lateral lobes. See also List of lyrate plants.
120px Leaf morphology Mucronate - Dypsis Lutescens mucronate mucronatus leaf tip Ending abruptly in a small sharp point as a continuation of the midrib[4]
120px Leaf morphology multifide.svg - Dypsis Lutescens multifid multi + findere whole leaf Cleft into many parts or lobes
120px Leaf morphology obcordate - Dypsis Lutescens obcordate obcordatus whole leaf Heart-shaped, stem attaches at the tapering end
120px Leaf morphology oblanceolate - Dypsis Lutescens oblanceolate oblanceolatus whole leaf Much longer than wide and with the widest portion near the tip; reversed lanceolate
120px Leaf morphology oblique - Dypsis Lutescens oblique leaf base Asymmetrical leaf base, with one side lower than the other
120px Leaf morphology oblong - Dypsis Lutescens oblong oblongus whole leaf Having an elongated form with slightly parallel sides; roughly rectangular
120px Leaf morphology obovate - Dypsis Lutescens obovate obovatus whole leaf Teardrop-shaped, stem attaches to the tapering end; reversed ovate
obtrullate whole leaf Reversed trullate; the longer sides meet at the base rather than the apex.
120px Leaf morphology obtuse - Dypsis Lutescens obtuse obtusus leaf tip or base Blunt, forming an angle > 90°
120px Leaf morphology orbicular - Dypsis Lutescens orbicular orbicularis whole leaf Circular
120px Leaf morphology ovale - Dypsis Lutescens ovate ovatus whole leaf Egg-shaped, with a tapering point and the widest portion near the petiole
120px Leaf morphology palmate - Dypsis Lutescens palmate palmatus whole leaf Palm-shaped, i.e. with lobes or leaflets stemming from the leaf base[5]
120px Palmatilob%C3%A9.svg - Dypsis Lutescens palmately lobed palmatus whole leaf Lobes spread radially from a point[6]
120px Palmatifide.svg - Dypsis Lutescens palmatifid palma + findere whole leaf Palm-shaped, having lobes with incisions that extend less than halfway toward the petiole
120px Palmatipartite.svg - Dypsis Lutescens palmatipartite palma + partiri whole leaf Having palmate lobes with incisions that extend over halfway toward the petiole
120px Palmatis%C3%A9qu%C3%A9e.svg - Dypsis Lutescens palmatisect palma + secare whole leaf Having palmate lobes with incisions that extend almost up, but not quite to the petiole.
120px Leaf morphology pandurate - Dypsis Lutescens pandurate panduratus whole leaf Fiddle-shaped; obovate with a constriction near the middle.
120px Leaf morphology pedate - Dypsis Lutescens pedate pedatus whole leaf Palmate, with cleft lobes[7]
120px Leaf morphology peltate - Dypsis Lutescens peltate peltatus stem attachment A round leaf where the petiole attaches near the center, e.g. a lotus leaf
120px Leaf morphology attachment connate perfoliate - Dypsis Lutescens perfoliate perfoliatus stem attachment With the leaf blade surrounding the stem such that the stem appears to pass through the leaf
120px Leaf morphology Perforate - Dypsis Lutescens perforate perforatus leaf surface features Many holes, or perforations, on leaf surface. Compare with fenestrate.
120px Pennatilob%C3%A9.svg - Dypsis Lutescens pinnately lobed pinna + lobus whole leaf Having lobes pinnately arranged on the central axis
120px Pennatifide.svg - Dypsis Lutescens pinnatifid pinna + findere whole leaf Having lobes with incisions that extend less than halfway to the midrib
120px Pennatipartite2.svg - Dypsis Lutescens pinnatipartite pinnatus + partiri whole leaf Having lobes with incisions that extend more than halfway to the midrib
120px Pennatis%C3%A9qu%C3%A9e.svg - Dypsis Lutescens pinnatisect pinnatus + sectus whole leaf Having lobes with incisions that extend almost to, or up to, the midrib
120px Leaf morphology reniform - Dypsis Lutescens reniform reniformis whole leaf Shaped like a kidney, with an inward curve on one side
120px Leaf morphology apex retuse - Dypsis Lutescens retuse leaf tip With a shallow notch in a round apex
120px Leaf morphology rhomboid - Dypsis Lutescens rhomboid, rhombic rhomboidalis whole leaf Diamond-shaped
120px Leaf morphology apex rounded - Dypsis Lutescens rounded rotundifolius leaf tip or base Circular, no distinct point
semiterete 3-D shape Rounded on one side and flat on the other
120px Leaf morphology spear shaped - Dypsis Lutescens sagittate sagittatus whole leaf Arrowhead-shaped with the lower lobes folded, or curled downward
120px Leaf morphology spatulate - Dypsis Lutescens spatulate spathulatus whole leaf Spoon-shaped; having a broad flat end which tapers to the base
120px Leaf morphology hastate - Dypsis Lutescens spear-shaped hastatus whole leaf See hastate.
120px Leaf morphology subobtuse - Dypsis Lutescens subobtuse subobtusus leaf tip or base Somewhat blunted; neither blunt nor sharp
120px Leaf morphology subulate - Dypsis Lutescens subulate subulatus leaf tip Awl-shaped with a tapering point
100px Plant morphology solid terete - Dypsis Lutescens terete 3-D shape Cylindrical with a circular or distorted circular cross-section and a single surface wrapping around it with no grooves or ridges. Subterete means the leaves are not completely terete, as seen in various lichens and succulents.
120px Leaf morphology trullate - Dypsis Lutescens trullate whole leaf Shaped like a masonry trowel
120px Leaf morphology truncate - Dypsis Lutescens truncate truncatus leaf tip or base With a squared-off end
undulate undulatus 3-D shape Wave-like
120px Leaf morphology unifoliate - Dypsis Lutescens unifoliate unifoliatus compound leaves With a single leaflet; it is distinct from a simple leaf by the presence of two abscission layers and often by petiolules and stipels.

Edge

Leaf margins (edges) are frequently used in visual plant identification because they are usually consistent within a species or group of species, and are an easy characteristic to observe. Edge and margin are interchangeable in the sense that they both refer to the outside perimeter of a leaf.

Image Term Latin Description
120px Leaf morphology entire - Dypsis Lutescens entire Forma
integra		 Even; with a smooth margin; without toothing
120px Leaf morphology ciliate - Dypsis Lutescens ciliate ciliatus Fringed with hairs
120px Leaf morphology crenate - Dypsis Lutescens crenate crenatus Wavy-toothed; dentate with rounded teeth
crenulate crenulatus Finely crenate
crisped crispus Curly
120px Leaf morphology dentate - Dypsis Lutescens dentate dentatus Toothed;

may be coarsely dentate, having large teeth

or glandular dentate, having teeth which bear glands

120px Leaf morphology denticulate - Dypsis Lutescens denticulate denticulatus Finely toothed
120px Leaf morphology doubly serrate - Dypsis Lutescens doubly serrate duplicato-dentatus Each tooth bearing smaller teeth
120px Leaf morphology serrate - Dypsis Lutescens serrate serratus Saw-toothed; with asymmetrical teeth pointing forward
120px Leaf morphology serrulate - Dypsis Lutescens serrulate serrulatus Finely serrate
120px Leaf morphology sinuate - Dypsis Lutescens sinuate sinuosus With deep, wave-like indentations; coarsely crenate
120px Leaf morphology lobate - Dypsis Lutescens lobate lobatus Indented, with the indentations not reaching the center
120px Leaf morphology undulate - Dypsis Lutescens undulate undulatus With a wavy edge, shallower than sinuate
120px Leaf morphology spiny - Dypsis Lutescens spiny or pungent spiculatus With stiff, sharp points such as thistles

Leaf folding

Leaves may also be folded, sculpted or rolled in various ways. If the leaves are initially folded in the bud, but later unrolls it is called vernation, ptyxis is the folding of an individual leaf in a bud.

Image Term Latin Description
carinate or keeled carinatus With a longitudinal ridge, keel-shaped
120px Peperomia dolabriformis - Dypsis Lutescens conduplicate Folded upwards, with the surfaces close to parallel
120px Mimetes fimbrifolius %285211424654%29 - Dypsis Lutescens cucullate Forming a hood, margins and tip curved downward
120px Involute vernation - Dypsis Lutescens involute Rolled upwards (towards the adaxial surface)
120px Palm leaf washingtonia robusta - Dypsis Lutescens plicate plicatus With parallel folds
reduplicate Folded downwards, with the surfaces close to parallel
120px Ledum groenlandicum - Dypsis Lutescens revolute Rolled downwards (towards the abaxial surface)
supervolute Opposing left and right halves of lamina folded along longitudinal axis, with one half rolled completely within the other

Latin descriptions

The Latin word for 'leaf', folium, is neuter. In descriptions of a single leaf, the neuter singular ending of the adjective is used, e.g. folium lanceolatum 'lanceolate leaf', folium lineare 'linear leaf'. In descriptions of multiple leaves, the neuter plural is used, e.g. folia linearia 'linear leaves'. Descriptions commonly refer to the plant using the ablative singular or plural, e.g. foliis ovatis 'with ovate leaves'.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The Ultimate Visual Family Dictionary. New Delhi: DK Pub. 2012. pp. 136–137. ISBN 978-0-1434-1954-9.
  2. ^ Radford, A.E.; Dickison, W.C.; Massey, J.R.; Bell, C.R. (1976). "Phytography - Morphological Evidence". Vascular Plant Systematics. Harper and Row, New York.
  3. ^ Index of Garden Plants, Mark Griffiths, Timber Press, 1992
  4. ^ Mucronate Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Answers.com, from Roget's Thesaurus.
  5. ^ "palmate (adj. palmately)". GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms. iVillage GardenWeb. 2006. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  6. ^ Nelson, Randal C. (2009) [2012]. "Leaf description glossary". University of Rochester. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  7. ^ Nicholson, George; Garret, John; Trail, JWH (1887–1889). The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening. London: L. Upcott Gill. ISBN 978-1436572316. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  8. ^ Stearn (2004), pp. 439–440.

Bibliography

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