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LeafShape

LeafShape

LEAFSHAPES
Therearemanydifferentleafshapesinnature.
Whatfollowsinthistutorialarethemostcommonleafshapes.

Ovate
AnOvateleafisdescribedasbeingbroadestbelowthemiddle,androughly2xaslongasitiswide.

Awaytorememberthisleafisthatitis"eggshaped.

Obovate
AnObovateleafisdescribedasbeingbroadestabovethemiddle,androughly2xaslongasitis
wide.

AnObovateleafisthereverseofOvate.

Lanceolate

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Lanceolate
ALanceolateleafisatleast3xlongerthanwide,andbroadestbelowmiddle.

Oblanceolate
Oblanceolateleavesareatleast3xlongerthanwide,butbroadestabovemiddle.

AnOblanceolateleafisthereverseofaLanceolateleaf.

Cordate
LeavesthatareCordateshapedhaveleavesthatarebroadtothepointandthenturnupwardsatthe
base,forminganotch.

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Cordateleavesare"heartshaped."

Obcordate
ObcordateleavesarethereverseofCordateleaves.Theystartatapointandthenwidenuntilthey
formanotchattheapex.

Elliptical
Ellipticalleaveshavethebroadestwidthinthemiddleandthentaperoffattheends.

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Anotherwaytorememberthisleafshapeistothinkofitas"footballshaped."

Oblong
Oblongleavesare23xaslongaswideandhaveparallelsides.

Cuneate
Cuneateleaveshaveasmallwidthatbase,butthenabroadwidthnearthetopbeforetheapex.

Cuneateleavesare"wedgeshaped."

Linear
Linearleavesarenarrow,areatleast4xlongerthanwide,andhavethesamewidththroughout.

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Peltate
Peltateleavesareroundedwiththepetioleattachedunderneaththebaseoftheleaf.

Peltateleavesareshapedlikelittleshields.

Spatulate
Spatulateleavesarenarrowforalmosttheentireleaf,butthenhaveanabruptroundstructureatthe
apex.

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Spatulateleaveshaveasimilarshapetoaspatula.

Reniform
Reniformleavesarebroadandwiderthantheyarehigh.

Peltateleavesareshapedlikekidneys.

Hastate
Hastateleavesareveryrecognizable.Theyaretaperoffatthreeapexesandarearrowheadshaped.

Review
Beforeyoutakethequiz,youmightwanttoreviewforitusingthefollowingactivities.
IntheFlashCardActivity,theleafShapewillbehidden.SeeifyoucannametheShape.Thenclickthelower
lefthandbox"term"toseetheanswer.

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IntheShapeComparisonActivityselectoneleaffromthetopandonefromthebottomtocomparetheshapes
ofdifferentleaves.

LeafShapeQuiz
Aquizwillloadupbelow.Ifyoufindthatyouarenotscoringveryhigh,besuretogobackandreview.

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