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Acutus

/a-KYU-tus/
🏷️ Taxonomy Basic

Also known as: acuta, acutum

A morphological epithet describing an apex that ends in a sharp but not elongated point — the tip forms an angle less than 90° without the long taper of acuminatus. Appears as acutus (masculine), acuta (feminine), or acutum (neuter).

Etymology

From Latin acutus, past participle of acuere (to sharpen), meaning "sharp-pointed."

Example

Carex acuta (slender tufted sedge) and countless sharply-tipped grasses have the pointed leaf tips that give them their characteristic pricking quality.