|
sword-shaped 2 |
= ensiform |
solid shape |
|
Elongate and moderately slender, strongly compressed, the opposite faces plane, parallel, broadest at the base and gradually attenuate to a short, more strongly attenuate, acute apex; like a broadsword blade. |
|
stellate 3 |
= star-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Having a distal aspect like the stylized shape of a star; stipitate or sessile with elongate branches or appendages radiating widely in three dimensions from a common point at the apex of the proximal axis or, when sessile, upon the bearing surface. |
|
laminar 2 |
|
solid shape |
|
Relatively very thin with parallel opposite broad faces, the whole plane or variously curved. Structures to which this term, along with any other three-dimensional ones, is applicable are often also described as though only two-dimensional, using terms that are implicitly understood to refer only to the outline of the broad faces. |
|
depressed |
< flattened |
solid shape |
|
Flattened distally, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, as though pressed from the top, the external surface otherwise basically convex. Often used in combination with some other term that describes the overall shape exclusive of ("before") flattening, e.g., depressed-globose. See also compressed (complanate), obcompressed. |
|
setaceous |
= bristle-shaped, setiform |
solid shape |
|
Elongate, slender, terete, straight, terminating in a fine point, and apparently stiff; like a bristle. |
|
axe-shaped |
= dolabriform |
solid shape |
|
Elongate, basally terete, becoming strongly compressed toward an abruptly and unilaterally broader apex; like an axe (handle plus head). |
|
…parted |
? …cleft, …fid, …lobate, …lobed, …partite, …segmented |
solid shape |
|
Having the number of lobes, divisions or segments indicated by the prefix; as in five-parted. |
|
cruciate 2 |
= cross-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Having two elongate, basically straight portions intersecting at a point interior to the ends of each. |
|
cochleate |
= snail-shell-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Relatively broad and short, basically round in transverse section, resembling a rapidly tapering spire overall, the exterior helically convoluted; like a snail shell. |
|
reniform 2 |
= kidney-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Thickly elongate and arcuate, circular or compressed-circular in transverse section, each end bluntly rounded; like the generalized shape of a human kidney. |
|
sausage-shaped |
= botuliform |
solid shape |
|
Arcuately cylindric with rounded ends. |
|
lorate |
= liguliform, strap-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Elongate and relatively thin with the opposite faces more or less plane and moderately narrow, their edges more or less straight and parallel over most of their length; resembling a strap. |
|
setiform |
= bristle-shaped, setaceous |
solid shape |
|
Elongate, slender, terete, straight, terminating in a fine point, and apparently stiff; like a bristle. |
|
axehead-shaped |
= dolabrate |
solid shape |
|
Like an axe head oriented cutting edge downward. |
|
hood-shaped |
= cucullate, cuculliform |
solid shape |
|
Convex or compressed-convex overall with a distal peak or ridge, relatively thin-walled and essentially hollow with the interior open to one side below the distal portion; resembling a hood or cowl. See also helmet-shaped (galeate, galeiform), which overlaps conceptually. |
|
divided |
? cleft, dissected, lobate, lobed, parted, partite, segmented |
solid shape |
|
Having two or more component sectors or peripheral protrusions that are delimited by concavities in the surface or margin and that are not proximally distinct from the remainder of the whole. The meanings of this term and its approximate synonyms sometimes have been supposed to differ according to the depth of the delimiting concavities relative to the midline or midpoint of the overall structure, and/or to the shape or proportions of the protusions or sectors; however, there has been little consistency in the applications of the various terms according to such distinctions, which are ones only of degree and are necessarily arbitrary in any case. In general usage, these terms differ only indistinctly and connotatively: cleft, lobed (or lobate), parted (or partite) and segmented tend to connote fewer protrusions or sectors; lobate usually connotes as well a generally rounded shape; dissected tends to connote more numerous sectors that are elongate and angular. See also cut (incised, lacerate, torn), laciniate (slashed). |
|
pyramidal |
|
solid shape |
|
Transversely triangular or polygonal, broadest at the base and regularly attenuate to an angular apex, all faces essentially plane. |
|
epipterous |
|
solid shape |
|
Alate with a single terminal wing. |
|
ribbed 2 |
|
solid shape |
|
Having two or more prominent, elongate, relatively narrow, essentially parallel protrusions that extend over all or most of its length or circumference. |
|
obcompressed |
< flattened |
solid shape |
|
Flattened adaxially and abaxially, parallel to the longitudinal axis, as though pressed or squeezed from the upper and lower surfaces, the external surface otherwise basically convex. Used alone, this term usually implies a strong degree of flattening; otherwise, it is often used in combination with some other term that describes the overall shape exclusive of ("before") flattening, e.g., obcompressed-lanceoloid. See also compressed (complanate), depressed. |
|
dilate(d) |
|
solid shape |
elongate structure |
Narrow at one end and broadening toward the other; esp. when essentially terete at the narrow proximal end and seemingly flattened distally, as some anther filaments. |
|
galeate |
= galeiform, helmet-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Convex overall with a more or less smoothly curved apex, relatively thin-walled and essentially hollow with the interior open to one side below the distal portion; resembling a helmet. See also cucullate (cuculliform, hood-shaped), which overlaps conceptually. |
|
orbicular |
= globose, globular, rotund, spheric(al), spheroid(al) |
solid shape |
|
Uniformly convex, circular in any median section and in outline when viewed from any angle; like a sphere or globe. |
|
suborbicular |
= subglobose, subrotund, subspheric(al), subspheroid(al) |
solid shape |
|
Broadly ellipsoid with a length:width ratio closely approaching 1:1; almost orbicular, slightly longer than broad. |
|
trulloid |
|
solid shape |
|
Elongate, basically square in transverse section, broadest below the middle, regularly attenuate to angular ends, all faces essentially plane. See also obtrulloid. |
