Cuneate

/kju'niːeɪt/ adjective

Definition

Shaped like a wedge; having a sharp pointed base and wider top, like a wedge or cone.

Etymology

From Latin 'cuneus' (wedge) plus the '-ate' suffix meaning 'having the form of.' This botanical and anatomical term has been used since the 18th century.

Kelly Says

Cuneate leaves are super useful for plant identification—botanists know that if a leaf gets narrower toward the stem like a wedge, that's the cuneate shape, and it tells you about how that plant evolved!

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