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Ovatus

/oh-VAH-tus/
🏷️ Taxonomy Basic

Also known as: ovata, ovatum

A leaf shape epithet describing an oval or egg-shaped leaf — widest in the lower half and tapering toward the tip. One of the fundamental leaf-outline terms. Appears as ovatus (masculine), ovata (feminine), or ovatum (neuter).

Etymology

From Latin ovatus, meaning "egg-shaped," from ovum (an egg).

Example

Buxus sempervirens and Viburnum ovatum both have the characteristically egg-shaped leaves — broad at the base, tapering at the tip.