Truncatus
/trun-KAH-tus/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
Also known as: truncata, truncatum
A morphological epithet describing a leaf base, leaf apex, or other organ that appears to have been cut off cleanly and squarely — ending abruptly with a straight or nearly straight margin rather than tapering or rounding. Appears as truncatus (masculine), truncata (feminine), or truncatum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin truncatus, past participle of truncare, meaning "to cut off" or "to lop," from truncus (trunk, maimed).
Example
“Liriodendron tulipifera has the most famous truncate leaf in all of horticulture — its apex cut off so squarely it looks as though someone has taken scissors to it, a feature the species epithet tulipifera shares the stage with.”