A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Acumen,-inis (s.n.III), abl. sg. acumine, nom. & acc. pl. acumina, gen. pl. acuminum, dat.& abl. pl. acuminibus;

1. a slender, tapering point; “an acute terminal angle” (Lindley); “tapering apex of leaf, with angle at apex less than 15*” (Smith 2004); cf. apiculus,-i (s.m.II), q.v., “a sharp and short, but not stiff point, in which a leaf may end” (Jackson); often used of mosses;

- columna erecta, semiteres, subalata, apoda, apice utrinque in acumen seu brachium erectum producta (B&H), the column erect, somewhat round, somewhat winged, stalkless, at the apex on both sides prolonged into an acumen or erect arm.

- acumine post germinis foecundationem ulterius evoluto, in perichaetio limbum linearem efformante foliis caulinis simillimum at duplo fere breviorem (DozyMoek); with the acumen further developed after the fertilization of the ovary, in the perichaetium giving forth a linear limb very similar to the cauline leaves and nearly two times shorter.

- folia superiora majora, convoluta, e basi lata pellucida acuminata, acumine recurva (DozyMoek), the upper leaves larger, convolute, acuminate from a broad pellucid base, with the acumen recurved.

- foliis duobus inferioribus duplo minoribus, acumine magis reflexo (DozyMoek), with the two lower leaves two times smaller, with the acumen more completely reflexed.

- folia superiora elongata lanceolata, acuminata, acumine saepe flexuoso subtortili (DozyMoek), with upper leaves elongate, lanceolate, acuminate, with the acumen often flexuous, almost twisted.

- dentibus peristomii linea mediana longitudinali in acumine dissoluta notatis, (DozyMoek), with the teeth of the peristome marked with a longitudinal median line, dissolved in the acumen.

- folia acuminata, acumine recto vel semitorto (DozyMoek), the leaves acuminate, with the acumen straight or half-twisted.

- folia ovato-acuminata, acumine elongato tenuiter serrulato (DozyMoek), leaves ovate-acuminate, with the acumen elongate lightly serrulate.

- folia marginibus et acumine planiuscula, e basi angustiore brevi latiuscule ovata (DozyMoek), leaves with the margins and acumen somewhat flat, ovate from a narrower, short, somewhat broad base.

- folia e basi brevissima angusta ovali-acuminata, stricta, subinde acumine semitorta, concava (DozyMoek), the leaves from a very short base narrow, oval-acuminate, upright, thereupon semi-twisted in the acumen.

2. acumen,-inis (s.n.III) (of the mind) acuteness, shrewdness, keenness, acumen; subtlety; keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination especially in practical matters; keen insight; shrewdness: remarkable acumen as in business matters or in intellectual matters;

- ordo assidue elaboratus est per Schóttium, qui multo acumino species ordinavit et tribus, subtribus, et genera, sumpta pro maxima parte de exemplaribus vivis, fundavit (B&H), an order industriously elaborated by Schottius [Heinrich Wilhelm Schott], who with great acumen [i.e. depth of perception] arranged the species and laid the foundation for tribes and subribes, and genera, taken for the most part from living specimens.