umbilicate

Umbilicate is an adjective used to describe a shape or attachment that resembles a navel, typically featuring a small central depression or scar where something attaches. The term derives from the Latin umbilicus, meaning navel, and is employed in descriptive morphology across disciplines to convey a central or recessed point of contact.

In botany, umbilicate is most often applied to plant parts that show a central attachment or a shallow basin at the base. The concept is used to describe leaves or other blade-like organs where the attachment point creates a navellike impression. Because its precise meaning can vary among authors, it is sometimes used loosely to refer to forms that are somewhat shield-like or display a central indentation around the attachment site rather than to a fixed, defined leaf type.

Beyond plants, umbilicate describes any structure that bears a central scar, indentation, or navel-like feature. This descriptive usage can be found in headings that aim to convey the presence of a central point of attachment or a recessed surface, rather than in a formal diagnostic category.

In summary, umbilicate conveys the notion of a navel-like feature in morphology, serving as a descriptive term rather than a rigid classification. It highlights a central or recessed attachment characteristic that can appear in various biological structures.

See also:

- Umbilicus

- Umbilical (anatomy)

- Peltate

- Cordate