runcinate
- adjective
- /ˈrʌn.sɪ.neɪt/
- Specialized
- The leaves of the dandelion are runcinate, with each lobe pointing toward the leaf base.
Examples
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A botanist identified the species by its distinctively runcinate foliage.
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Many weedy plants have runcinate leaves that help them avoid grazing animals.
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The runcinate leaves of the dandelion are easily recognizable.
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Many gardeners appreciate the runcinate shape of these leaves.
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The leaves of the dandelion are runcinate, featuring sharp edges that curve toward the base.
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A botanist identified the plant by its runcinate leaves, which have lobes directed downwards.
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Many weedy plants exhibit runcinate foliage, which helps them thrive in challenging environments.
Compounds
- Specialized
A leaf with deep cuts whose teeth curve toward the stem, like a dandelion
How Incised
Surface Forms
Morphology
runcinate = runcin + ate
The combining form 'runcin-' is not a standalone English word and the adjective is specialized botanical jargon, so learners cannot reliably derive the meaning from its visible parts.
Etymology
Runcinate comes from the Latin runcina, a small cutting tool like a 'hook' or 'saw'. So, imagine a leaf cut by tiny teeth that point back toward the stem — that's why runcinate leaves have lobes that 'point toward the base'.