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labellar

Pertaining to the labellum: a lip; in orchid flowers referring to the middle petal which usually differs in size, shape or ornamentation from the two lateral petals.

The lip of an orchid flower. Photographer: Tony Foster

labellum

A lip; in orchid flowers referring to the highly modified middle petal which usually differs in size, shape or ornamentation from the two lateral petals.

The labellum of Caladenia chlorostyla. Photographer: Jeremy Rolfe

lacinia

A jagged lobe.

laciniae

Jagged lobes.

laciniate

Cut into narrow, irregular lobes or segments.

lacustrine

Of or having to do with a lake, of, relating to, or formed in lakes, growing or living in lakes.

Lacustrine vegetation, Lake Waiporohita. Photographer: Jeremy Rolfe

lamina

The expanded flattened portion or blade of a leaf, fern frond or petal.

The lamina of a leaf of Coprosma tenuifolia. Photographer: Jeremy Rolfe

lanceolate

Lance-shaped; of a leaf several times longer than wide with greatest width about one third from the base, tapering gradually to apex and more rapidly to base.

Lanceolate leaf shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison
Lanceolate kauri leaves. Photographer: Tony Foster
Lanceolate Parsonsia capsularis leaves. Photographer: Tony Foster

lateral

On or at the side.

Hebe stricta leaves at the side. Photographer: Tony Foster
Lateral fruit of Poutere costata. Photographer: Tony Foster

lax

With parts open and spreading, not compact.

Open and spreading branches of Leucopogon fasiculata. Photographer: Tony Foster

laxly

With parts open and spreading, not compact.

leaflet

One section of a compound leaf.

Leaflets of a compound leaf of Pseudopanax gilliesii. Photographer: Tony Foster

lemma

The lower of two bracts enclosing the flower in grasses.

lenticillate

Bark that is covered in fine lenticles (breathing pores).

ligulate

Strap–like, tongue–shaped.

ligule

The membrane between the leaf and the stem of a grass; the “petal” of a ray floret in a composite inflorescence.

The ligule of the introduced grass Poa trivialis. Photographer: Jeremy Rolfe
White ligules of the mountain daisy Celmisia spectabilis subsp. lanceolata. Photographer: Jeremy Rolfe

linear

Long and narrow with more or less parallel sides.

Linear leaf shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison
Linear leaf shape of Ficinia spiralis. Photographer: Tony Foster

littoral

Occurring at the border of land and sea (or lake). On or pertaining to the shore. The shallow sunlit waters near the shore to the depth at which rooted plants stop growing.

lobe

A recognisable, but not separated, rounded division or segment of a leaf or pinna. Used to describe ferns and leaves in Cotula and Leptinella.

A rounded division or segment of a leaf. Photographer: Tony Foster

lobule

A small lobe or sub-division of a lobe.

lustrous

Glossy, shiny.

The glossy leaves of Coprosma repens. Photographer: Tony Foster

lyrate

Pinnatifid or pinnatisect terminal lobe much larger than lower lobes.

Lyrate leaf shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison

lycophytes

Seedless vascular plants that belong to the phylum Lycophyta (characterised by microphylls -primitive leaves found in ancient plants).

A lycophyte, Lycopodium fastigiatum. Photographer: Jeremy Rolfe

lobed

Part of a leaf (or other organ), often rounded, formed by incisions to about halfway to the midrib.

A lobed leaf shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison
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