lanceolate

Lanceolate is a botanical term used to describe a leaf shape that is longer than it is wide, with a slender blade that tapers to a pointed tip. In lanceolate leaves the widest part of the blade is typically below the middle, and the base is narrower than the widest portion. The overall profile resembles a spear or lance.

Leaves described as lanceolate may be classified as narrowly lanceolate or broad-lanceolate depending on relative width. Related terms include oblong-lanceolate (between oblong and lanceolate) and oblanceolate (inverted, widest toward the apex).

Originating from the Latin lancea, meaning spear, the term is a standard descriptive tool in botany. It is used in species descriptions, herbarium labels, and identification keys to distinguish leaf shapes among plant taxa. Lanceolate leaves occur across a wide range of plant groups, including many shrubs and herbaceous perennials, and its usage helps with consistent morphological comparisons in plant taxonomy.