A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

acuminate, long-pointed, tapering, tapered to a slender point; having a gradually diminishing point or apex; tapering gradually or abruptly from inwardly curved sides into a narrow point (Stearn), “extended into an acute terminal angle; this word is confined to considerable extension” (Lindley); ”terminating very gradually in a point [now ‘applied to an apex bounded by lines or surfaces which change from straight or convex to concave and converge gradually to a point’; cf. Rickett” (Stearn 1983); the angle formed by the apex should be l0 degrees or less (Whittier); “slenderly tapered with an angle of less than 45*; longer than acute” (Magill 1990). "A few recent writers use terms as applying to those leaves that are not uniformly narrowed and limit the term acumen to that part of the apex beyond the point where the narrowing begins to be less abrupt. According to these authors a leaf uniformly narrowed would not be acuminate no matter how slender the apex...general usage does not seem to sanction this restriction of the term" (Grout): acuminatus,-a,-um (adj.A); cf. acute;

- spica fructifera strobiliformis, ovoidea v. oblonga, squamis v. bracteis rigidis acute acuminatis (B&H), the fruit-bearing spike strobiliform, ovoid or oblong, with scales or bracts rigid sharply acuminate.

- (moss) folia e basi lata, pellucida cuspidato-acuminata, obtusiuscula, (DozyMoek), leaves from the base wide, pellucid, cuspidate-acuminate, somewhat obtuse.

- (moss) folia perichaetii e parte basilari magis elongata et latiore subito anguste et acute acuminata (DozyMoek), the leaves of the perichaetium from the basal part more elongated and more broadly, suddenly narrowly and sharply acuminate.

- folia caulina late lanceolata, piliformi -acuminata, stem leaves broadly lanceolate, hair-shaped-acuminate.

- folia interiora minora, brevius acuminata, serrulata, the inner leaves smaller, more shortly acuminate, serrulate.

NOTE: compar. acuminatius,-ior (adj.B); also magis acuminatus,-a,-um (adj.A);

- Sapium aucuparium Jacq. diversum videtur, foliis longioribus, acuminatioribus, serratis, apice subcartilagineo – rostratis (Swartz), Sapium aucuparium seems different, with longer leaves more acuminate, serrate, slightly cartilagineous-rostrate at the apex.

NOTE: without a point, such as a mucro or other projection: muticus,-a,-um (adj.A)

acuminato-serratus,-a,-um (adj.A): “when saw-toothings or serratures are much tapered to a point” (Lindley).