This page is about the overall shapes of leaves. Photos and writeups are © Ohio State University.
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Lanceolate - length greater than width, broadest at the base, narrowing to the apex, lance-shaped. | |
Ovate - more or less rounded at both ends and broadest below the middle, egg-shaped. | |
Elliptical - ellipse-shaped, narrow at each end, widest at the middle. |
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Cordate - more or less rounded at both ends and broadest below the middle, egg-shaped. | |
Oblong - longer than wide, sides parallel, rectangular with rounded corners. | |
Linear - parallel sides, long and very narrow. |
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Auriculate - having auricle(s) -- ear-shaped lobe(s) at the base of leaves or petals. | |
Obovate - inversely ovate, broader above the middle than below. | |
Oblanceolate - inversely lanceolate, broader above the middle and tapering to the base. |
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Spatulate - oblong with the basal end narrowed and the apical end rounded, spoon-shaped. | |
Palmately lobed - three or more lobes radiating fan-like from a common base. | |
Pinnately lobed - segments or lobes along each side of a common axis. |
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Needle - slender leaf of many conifers. | |
scale-like - small appressed leaf or bract. | |
Awl-like - tapering from the base to a sharp point. |
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Pinnately compound - compound leaf with the leaflets arranged on both sides of the rachis or axis bract. |  |
Palmately compound - three or more leaflets radiating fan-like from a common basal point of attachment. |  |
Bipinnately compound - twice pinnate, the primary leaflets are divided into secondary leaflets, also written 2-pinnate. |
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