Glossary

Abbreviations: adj., adjective; pl., plural; sing., singular; syn., synonym; vb., verb.

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A

a- (prefix):

without, lacking.

abaxial:

applied to the side or surface facing away from the axis or stem (compare adaxial).

abortion:

suppression of parts which are usually present.

abscission:

the normal shedding from a plant of an organ that is mature or aged.

acarodomatium (pl. acarodomatia):

a small cavity of very varying form, found on almost any vegetative part of the plant, which is inhabited, or thought to be inhabited, by mites;
commonest types are small pockets or pits in axils of main veins with midrib on lower leaf surface.

acauline / acaulescent:

stemless or seemingly so.

accrescent:

increasing in size, e.g. the calyx of some plants in the fruiting stage.

accumbent:

lying against, as the cotyledons (in some Brassicaceae) with their edges against the radicle.

achene:

a small dry fruit, not splitting when ripe, formed from a superior ovary of one carpel and containing a single seed, with the seed coat free from the fruit wall, as in Clematis (Ranunculaceae) (compare cypsela).

acicular:

very narrow, stiff and pointed, needle-like.

acinaciform:

scimitar-shaped;
shaped like a short, curved, single-edged sword.

acropetal:

arising or developing in a longitudinal sequence towards the apex.

actinomorphic:

applied to flowers which are radially symmetrical, i.e. capable of being bisected into similar halves in more than one vertical plane, forming mirror images ( = regular) (compare irregular, zygomorphic).

aculeate:

armed with prickles, as distinct from spines.

aculeolate:

with small prickles.

acumen:

a long, tapering point.

acuminate:

having a long, slender, sharp point with a terminal angle less than 45°, with margins straight to convex.

acute:

sharp-pointed, with a terminal angle between 45° and 90° with margins straight to convex.

adaxial:

applied to the side facing the stem or axis (compare abaxial).

adnate:

fused to an organ of a different kind, e.g. an ovary to the calyx tube.

adpressed: see appressed.

 

adventitious:

applied to plant organs produced in an unusual or irregular position or at an unusual time of development, as in adventitious buds, roots or shoots.

adventive:

introduced recently by chance to an area (compare introduced, naturalised).

aerenchyma (adj. aerenchymatous):

tissue of thinwalled cells and large intercellular spaces, found especially in water- and marsh plants.

aestivation:

the manner in which sepals and petals are arranged in a bud (compare vernation).

aggregate fruit:

a cluster of fruits formed from the free carpels of one flower, e.g. the many small drupes in the 'fruit'of Rubus (Rosaceae) (compare syncarp).

alate:

winged, as in certain stems or seeds;
having wing-like extensions.

albumen (adj. albuminous):

starchy or other nutritive material within the embryo;
an older term largely replaced by the term endosperm.

allopatric:

(of two or more taxa): having different ranges of distribution (compare sympatric).

alternate:

applied to leaves and other organs inserted singly at different levels along the axis.

alternipetalous:

applied to floral parts arising alternately with the petals.

alternisepalous:

applied to floral parts arising alternately with the sepals.

alveola (pl. alveolae):

small pits on the surface, as on the receptacle of many of the Asteraceae (see alveolate).

alveolate:

honeycombed;
having deep angular sides, like the cavities of a honeycomb.

amphistomatic / amphistomatous:

with stomata on both upper and lower leaf surfaces.

amphitropous ovule:

an ovule which is attached near its middle and is bent in the form of a U, so that the ovule tip and stalk base are near each other.

amplexicaul:

stem-clasping, as when the base of the leaf is dilated and embraces the stem.

ampullaceous:

swollen out in flask-shape.

anacampylotropous:

applied to an ovule intermediate in structure between anatropous and campylotropous.

anantherous:

of a filament without anther.

anastomosis (vb. anastomose):

union of one vein with another, the connections forming a network.

anatropous:

applied to an ovule that is inverted, so that the funicle is basally attached near the adjoining micropyle area, and the chalaza is at the opposite end.

ancipital / ancipitous:

two-edged;
flattened or compressed, as in stems of certain Poaceae.

androecium:

the stamens and accessories of one flower.

androgynophore:

a stalk supporting both androecium and gynoecium of a flower above the level of insertion of the perianth.

androphore:

a stalk bearing the androecium.

andropodium:

the structure on which the stamens arise (in some Podostemaceae).

anemochoric:

dispersed by wind.

anemophilous:

pollinated or dispersed by wind (compare entomophilous, hydrophilous, ornithophilous).

aneuploid:

having a chromosome number that is not an exact multiple of the haploid number, because one chromosome set is incomplete.

angiosperm:

a seed-bearing plant whose ovules, and hence seeds, develop within an ovary (compare gymnosperm).

angustiseptate:

with narrow partitions (compare latiseptate).

anisocytic:

of a stoma with three subsidiary cells, one distinctly smaller than the other two, surrounding the stoma.

anisophyllous:

with the two leaves of a pair of unequal size or shape (compare heterophyllous, isophyllous)

annual:

a plant whose life span ends within one year after germination.

annular:

arranged in a circle.

annulate:

ring-shaped;
having an annulus.

annulus:

any ring or ring-like structure.

anomocytic:

of a stoma surrounded by a limited number of cells that are indistinguishable from those of the remainder of the epidermis.

antepetalous (e.g. of stamens):

opposite the petals.

antesepalous (e.g. of stamens):

opposite the sepals.

anterior (applied to floral organs):

in a position most remote from the axis (compare posterior / posticous).

anthela (adj. anthelate):

a panicle in which the lateral axes overtop the main axis.

anther:

the part of the stamen which contains the pollen, usually comprising four microsporangia or pollen sacs, two in each half or lobe of the anther;
the tissue separating the two sacs in each half usually disintegrates before anthesis, resulting in a 2-thecous / bithecous / 2-locular / 2-celled anther.

anther canal (in orchids):

the narrow basal portion of a pollinium.

antherode:

a sterile anther, often rudimentary.

anther slits:

see gynostegial grooves.

anther wings (in Asclepiadoideae-Apocynaceae):

see gynostegial grooves.

anthesis:

period during which the flower is open.

anthocarp:

a false fruit formed by the union of floral parts with the fruit (as in Nyctaginaceae).

anthophore:

a short stalk between calyx and petals (e.g. in Dianthus-Caryophyllaceae).

antical / anticous:

applied to that which is most remote or turned away from the axis;
occasionally employed for introrse, as applied to anthers (compare posticous).

antrorse:

bent or directed towards the apex or forward (compare retrorse).

apex (pl. apices):

tip;
topmost part or terminal end.

aphlebia:

stipular outgrowths which occur on the rachis.

apicule / apiculum / apiculus (adj. apiculate):

a short point.

apocarpous:

with carpels free from one another.

apophysis (pl. apophyses):

the rounded, exposed thickening on the scales of certain pine cones.

apotropous:

of an anatropous ovule with ventral raphe.

appendaged / appendiculate:

with small appendages;
hanging in small fragments.

appressed:

lying close to and flat along the surface.

aquatic:

living in water.

arachnoid:

cobwebby by soft and fine entangled hairs which are longer than in tomentose.

araneose / araneous:

see arachnoid.

arborescent:

having the shape or characteristic of a tree.

arcuate:

curved like a bow.

areolate:

divided into distinct spaces.

areole:

a small pit or raised spot, often bearing a tuft of hairs or spines;
a space marked out on a surface;
a small area in a leaf between small veins.

aril:

an appendage covering or partly enclosing the seed and arising from the funicle (stalk) of the seed.

arillode:

a false aril;
a fleshy coat derived from the orifice or micropylar rim of the outer integument instead of the stalk of an ovule.

arillus (pl. arilli; adj. arillate):

see aril.

arista (pl. aristae):

a bristle-like appendage as on glumes of many Poaceae;
a bristly awn.

aristate:

with a long, bristle-like point.

article:

one of the segments of a jointed fruit, such as a loment, or internodes of the branchlets of e.g. *Casuarinaceae or Salicornieae-Chenopodiaceae.

articulate(d):

jointed or separating at a certain point and leaving a clean scar.

articulation:

a joint, e.g. between the column and the lower part of the lemma in Aristida (Poaceae).

ascendent / ascending:

growing erect after an oblique or ± horizontal beginning.

ascending (of aestivation):

sepals or petals arranged in the bud so that the upper margins of the lowest member overlap the lower margin of the member above it.

asperous:

rough, harsh to the touch.

asperulate / asperulous:

slightly rough to the touch.

ategmic (of a seed):

without covering.

atrocastaneous:

dark chestnut-coloured;
dark brown.

attenuate:

tapering gradually.

aulacospermous (of seeds):

furrowed.

auricle (adj. auricled / auriculate):

an ear-like lobe or appendage at the base of a leaf or other organ.

autogamous:

self-fertilising.

awn:

a fine bristle usually terminating an organ, as at the tip of the glumes and lemmas of many Poaceae.

axil:

the angle between leaf or bract and the axis bearing it.

axile placentation:

placentation with the ovules borne on the axis or the inner angle of the locules of a syncarpous ovary (see also marginal placentation and parietal placentation).

axillary:

arising from the axil.

axis (of an inflorescence):

that part of the stem or branch on which the individual flowers are borne.

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baccate:

berry-like.

barbate:

bearded.

barbed:

with rigid points or lateral bristles pointing backwards.

barbellate:

shortly barbed.

basal:

at the base.

basifixed:

fixed by its base, e.g. of an anther (compare dorsifixed, medifixed, versatile).

basiscopic:

toward the basal or proximal (as opposed to distal) end;
facing basally.

B-chromosomes (accessory chromosomes):

supernumery chromosomes occurring in addition to the normal diploid complement.

beak:

a prominent terminal projection, especially of a carpel or fruit;
a slight narrowing of the lemma below the awns, as distinct from a longer straight column, e. g. in Aristida (Poaceae).

bearded:

with long awns or with tufts of stiff hairs.

berry:

a juicy fruit with soft pericarp, the seeds immersed in pulp (compare drupe, pyrene).

bi- (prefix):

twice;
two;
having two.

bicallose:

with two callosities.

bicarpellate (of an ovary):

with two carpels.

bicolorous:

two-coloured.

bifacial (of a leaf):

dorsiventral, having a distinct upper and lower surface.

bifarious(ly):

see distichous.

bifid:

cleft into two parts for ± half the length.

bifoliate:

having two leaves.

bifoliolate:

having two leaflets.

bilabiate:

2-lipped, as when two or three lobes of a calyx or coroIla stand separate as an upper lip from the others forming a lower lip.

bilocular:

with two locules or compartments.

binate:

in pairs.

bipinnate:

when the primary divisions (pinnae) of a pinnate leaf are themselves pinnate.

biramous:

with two branches.

biseriate:

arranged in two rows or whorls.

bisexual:

having both sexes in the same flower or inflorescence.

bitegmic:

of an ovule having two integuments.

biternate (of a leaf):

with two orders of leaflets, each ternately compound.

bithecate (of an anther):

with two thecae.

bivalved:

having two valves.

blade:

the expanded part of a leaf or petal (see also lamina, limb).

bothrospermous (of seeds):

pitted.

botryoid:

like a cluster of grapes.

brachyblast:

a spur shoot or short branch.

bract:

a leaf-like structure, different in form from the foliage leaves and without an axillary bud, associated with an inflorescence or a flower.

bracteal cup:

cup-shaped structure formed by fused bracts (e.g. in Viscaceae).

bracteate:

possessing or bearing bracts.

bracteole (adj. bracteolate):

small bract borne on the pedicel or calyx of a flower.

bractiform:

looking like a bract.

bristle:

a stiff, strong trichome, similar to a pig's bristle, as in the perianth of some Cyperaceae.

brochidodromous (of a leaf):

with a single primary vein, the secondary veins not terminating at the margin but joined together in a series of prominent upward arches or marginal loops on each side of the primary vein.

bud:

an undeveloped shoot that can give rise to a branch or flower.

bulb:

a storage organ, usuaIly underground, made up of a usuaIly much abbreviated stem and fleshy leaf bases.

bulbil:

a small deciduous bulb (or tuber) formed around the mother bulb or in the axil of a leaf, and functioning to propagate the plant vegetatively.

bulbous-based:

with an inflated base.

bullate:

having a blistered or puckered surface;
(of a leaf surface): prominently raised, like a bubble, between the veins.

bur(r):

a rough or prickly propagule consisting of a seed or fruit and associated floral parts or bracts.

buttress:

a flange of tissue protruding from the base of the main trunk of a tree.

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caducous:

falling off early.

caespitose:

growing in tufts.

calcarate:

having a spur.

calceiform:

shaped like a slipper.

callose / callous:

hard and thick in texture;
bearing callosities.

callosity:

a leathery or hard thickening of part of an organ.

callus (pl. calli):

a thickened part, such as the thickened extension at the base of the lemma at the point of its attachment to the rachilla.

calycine:

belonging to the calyx.

calyculus (pl. calyculi; adj. calyculate):

the bracts around the calyx or an involucre resembling an outer calyx (see also epicalyx).

calyx (pl. calyces):

the outer envelope of the flower, consisting of free or united sepals.

calyx tube:

when the sepals are partly united, the lower portion is referred to as the tube and the upper free part as the limb usually divided into calyx teeth, lobes or segments (see also hypanthium).

campanulate:

bell-shaped.

campylotropous:

of an ovule orientated transversely (i.e. with its axis at right angles to its stalk and with a curved embryo sac).

canaliculate:

channelled.

canescent:

± grey-pubescent or hoary.

cano- (prefix):

greyish white (usually applied to hair covering).

capillary:

resembling a hair;
very slender.

capitate:

(1) like the head of a pin, as the stigma of some flowers;
( 2) collected into compact head-like clusters, as the inflorescences of Asteraceae.

capituliform:

shaped like a capitulum.

capitulum (pl. capitula)

a dense head-like inflorescence usually of sessile flowers (see also head).

capsule:

a dry fruit composed of two or more united carpels and either splitting when ripe into flaps called valves or opening by slits or pores.

carina ( adj. carinal):

a keel;
the two partially united anterior (lowest) petals of a papilionaceous flower, or the single, similar-shaped, anterior petal in many Polygalaceae.

carinate:

keeled.

carnose:

fleshy.

carpel:

an organ (generally believed to be a modified foliar unit) at the centre of a flower, bearing one or more ovules and having its margins fused together or fused with other carpels to enclose the ovule(s) in an ovary, and consisting also of a stigma and usually a style (see also suture).

carpellate:

possessing carpels.

carpophore:

the stalk of a carpel or of a mericarp.

carpopodium:

the stalk of a fruit.

carrier:

see corpuscle.

cartilaginous:

hard and tough, as the skin of an apple pip.

caruncle (adj. caruncular / carunculate):

an outgrowth from integuments at or near the hilum of certain seeds (see also strophiole).

caryopsis:

a 1-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with the seedcoat adnate to the fruit wall, derived from a 1- loculed superior ovary (characteristic of Poaceae) (compare achene).

castaneous:

chestnut-coloured;
dark brown.

cataphyll:

small scale leaf, e.g. on rhizomes of flowering plants.

catkin:

a dense, often pendulous spike of small unisexual flowers which have no conspicuous perianth.

caudate:

abruptly ending in a long tail-like tip or appendage.

caudex:

a short, thickened, often woody, vertical or branched perennial stem, usually subterranean or at ground level (e.g. in some spp. of Encephalartos Zarniaceae).

caudicle:

the stalk of a pollen mass connecting it to the corpuscle, in Asclepiadaceae and Orchidaceae (also known as translator arm).

caulescent:

with an obvious leafy stem;
having an evident stem above ground.

cauliflorous:

producing flowers from old wood (compare ramiflorous).

cauline:

arising from or inserted on the stem.

centric (of a leaf):

filiform to cylindrical with a ± continuous palisade layer (see also unifacial).

centripetal:

as in inflorescences, blooming from the outside inward or from the base upward.

chalaza (adj.chalazal):

basal region of the ovule where it joins the funicle;
region of a seed opposite the micropyle.

chamaephyte:

a perennial plant, generally woody or partly woody, with the mean height of the renewal buds less than or equal to 0.7 m from the ground.

chartaceous:

papery in texture, opaque and thin.

chasmogamous:

pollinated when the flower is open (compare cleistogamous).

chasmophyte:

plant growing in rock crevices.

chlorenchyma:

parenchyma cells containing chloroplasts.

choripetalous:

having separate and distinct petals (= polypetalous) (compare gamopetalous, sympetalous).

cilia (sing. cilium):

short epidermal outgrowths, such as hairs or scales ± confined to the margins of an organ.

ciliate:

with a fringe of hairs along the edge.

ciliolate:

minutely ciliate.

cincinnus (pl. cincinni; adj. cincinnate):

a tight, unilateral scorpioid cyme.

circinnate:

spirally coiled, with the tip innermost, as the leaves of Drosera-Droseraceae.

circumscissile:

applied to an organ opening as if cut circularly around the upper part, which then comes off like a lid.

cirrhiferous:

producing tendrils.

cirrhose:

having tendrils.

cistolith:

see cystolith.

cladode:

a flattened, foliaceous stem having the form and function of a leaf, but arising in the axil of a minute, bract-like caducous, true leaf (compare phyllode).

clathrate:

latticed or pierced with apertures like a trellis.

clavate:

club-shaped or thickened towards the end.

clavellate:

diminutive of clavate, thickened towards the apex.

claviform:

club-shaped.

claw (adj. clawed):

the narrow base of a petal, sepal or bract.

cleistogamous:

(of pollination) occurring when the flower is closed (as in Viola - Violaceae) (compare chasmogamous ).

cleft:

incised almost to the midrib or base.

club-shaped:

gradually thickened from a slender base.

coalesce:

to fuse.

cobwebby:

entangled with fine filaments (see also arachnoid).

coccus (pl. cocci; adj. coccous):

a one-carpel unit of a schizocarp or lobed fruit, becoming separate at maturity (e.g. in Euphorbiaceae).

collateral:

standing side by side.

colleter:

a mucilaginous secretory hair, often occurring in tufts near the base of the leaf lamina and on the calyx (e.g. in Apocynaceae).

colliculate:

covered with little rounded elevations.

colpate (of a pollen grain):

having elongate, longitudinal apertures.

colporate (of a pollen grain):

having compound apertures (adj. of colporus).

colporus (of a pollen grain):

a compound aperture consisting of an ectocolpus with one or more endoapertures.

colpus (pl. colpi) (of a pollen grain):

a usually longitudinal, ± distinct aperture (compare sulcus).

column:

(1) the adnate stamen and style forming a solid central body, as in orchids;
( 2) the tube of connate filaments, as in Malvaceae;
( 3) a straight structure between the apex of the lemma and the branching point of the awns, as in Aristida and Stipagrostis (Poaceae) (see beak).

coma:

a tuft of hairs at the end of some seeds;
a terminal crown of leaves or bracts, e.g. in Eucomis (Hyacinthaceae).

commissural:

of a joint or seam, such as that between two adhering sepals.

commissure:

the faces of cohering carpels (e.g. in Apiaceae);
the place of joining or meeting.

comose:

bearing a tuft of trichomes, usually apically.

complanate:

flattened;
compressed.

complicate:

folded on itself.

compound:

the opposite of simple;
composed of several similar parts, as a leaf of several leaflets.

compound fruit:

the fruits of separate flowers becoming united into a mass.

compound umbel:

each ray again bearing an umbel.

compressed:

flattened lengthwise from side. to side or from front to back.

concolor / concolorous:

of uniform colour (e.g. upper and lower leaf surface with the same colour) (compare discolorous).

concrescent:

growing / grown together.

conduplicate:

folded together lengthwise.

condyle:

an intrusion of the placenta which forms grooves or cavities in the endocarp of the developing fruit (e.g. in Menispermaceae).

confervoid:

composed of threads;
(of pollen): united in strings.

conflorescence:

a modified, condensed inflorescence, as found in Eucalyptus - Myrtaceae.

conical:

???

connate:

applied to parts of the same series which are united so closely that they cannot be separated without tearing.

connective:

the part of an anther which connects its two thecae.

connivent:

applied to parts converging so as to be nearer together above than below.

conoidal:

± conical.

conservation (of a name):

the decision of an International Botanical Congress that a validly published name shall be used even though to do so is contrary to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (I.C.B.N.).

contorted (of sepals and petals):

twisted in the bud so that each overlaps the adjoining one on one side and is overlapped by the other adjoining one on the other side, like a furled umbrella;
spirally twisted.

contractile roots:

a specialised type of root, often found in bulbous plants, that undergoes contraction and thereby pulls the bulb or shoot parts deeper into the soil.

convexity:

the condition of being convex or having a curvature that bulges towards the point of observation.

convolute:

rolled up lengthwise (also used in the sense of contorted).

cordate:

applied to the base of a leaf when it is ± deeply notched.

coriaceous:

firm, tough, of the consistence of leather.

corm:

a tuberous bulb-like rootstock.

cormous:

possessing a corm.

cornate:

bearing a horn.

corniculate:

bearing or terminating in a small horn-like protuberance or process.

cornute:

bearing a horn.

corolla:

the inner envelope of the flower, consisting of free or united petals.

corona:

a crown;
(in the flower of some Apocynaceae and Passifloraceae and others): a circle of appendages between the corolla and stamens, often united in a ring or crown;
in some members of the Asclepiadoideae - Apocynaceae the corona consists of one or two (sometimes three) alternating rows different in size and shape, the outer row nearest to the corolla lobes, the inner row nearest to the staminal column.

coroniform:

shaped like a crown.

corpuscle / corpusculum (pl. corpuscula):

a small, ± spherical, slightly 2-parted, hard, usually brown to black, sticky body with two flexible arms (caudicles), each carrying one pollinium, in Asclepiadoideae-Apocynaceae.

cortex:

the unspecialised tissue in stems and roots between the vascular bundles and the epidermis.

corymb (adj. corymbose):

a ± flat-topped racemose inflorescence in which the branches or pedicels start from different points but all reach to about the same level.

costa (pl. costae):

the midvein of a single leaf or the rachis of a pinnatelycompound leaf.

costule:

the midrib of a pinnule or pinna segment.

cotyledon:

the primary leaf of an embryo.

craspedodromous venation:

leaf venation characterised by a single primary vein, with the lateral veins terminating at the margin.

crassate:

coarse, gross, dense, thick.

crenate (noun crenation) (of a margin):

notched with regular blunt or rounded teeth;
scalloped.

crenulate:

crenate with very small teeth;
minutely scalloped.

crescentic / crescentiform:

biconcave, resembling the shape of the moon in its first or last quarters.

crested:

having a crest, elevated appendage or ridge on the summit of an organ.

crinite:

bearded with long, weak hairs.

crispate:

curled.

crista (adj. cristate):

a crest or ridge.

cruciform:

cross-shaped.

crustaceous:

of brittle texture.

cucullate:

hooded or hood-shaped.

culm:

the stem of Cyperaceae and Poaceae.

cultrate / cultriform:

shaped like a knife blade.

cuneate (of the base of a leaf):

tapering gradually, i.e. wedge-shaped.

cuneiform:

wedge-shaped;
triangular, with the narrow part at the point of attachment.

cupule / cupulum (pl. cupula):

a cup-shaped structure at the base of some fruits formed by the fusion of involucralbractsat their bases, e.g. the acorn of oaks, a structure at the base of the fruits of some palms, the cup-shaped involucre of some Asteraceae;
a series of free trichomes apically on achenes of Asteraceae which become fused with age.

cupular / cupuliform:

applied to a shallow, open structure, as the involucre of an acorn.

cusp:

an abrupt, sharp, often rigid point.

cuspidate:

abruptly tipped with a sharp rigid point.

cuticle:

a noncellular layer of waxy or fatty materials on the outer wall of epidermal cells.

cutin (adj. cutinous):

a waxy, waterproof substance that is the main constituent of the plant cuticle.

cyathiform:

cup-shaped.

cyathium:

an inflorescence resembling a single flower, composed of unisexual flowers surrounded by bracts and often by glands, typical of Euphorbia - Euphorbiaceae.

cymbiform:

boat-shaped.

cyme (adj. cymose):

a determinate inflorescence in which each flower, in tum, is formed at the tip of a growing axis, and further flowers are formed on branches arising below it (compare indeterminate inflorescence).

cymule:

a small cyme or portion of one, usually few flowered.

cypsela (pl. cypselae):

an achene derived from a 1- loculed, inferior ovary;
as in the indehiscent fruits of Asteraceae (compare achene).

cystolith:

mineral concretion, usually of calcium carbonate, in the epidermis of e.g. Acanthaceae and Urticaceae, showing up as streaks or protuberances, particularly in dried material.

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deciduous:

falling off at the end of the season of growth (compare evergreen).

declinate:

angled downwards or forwards (compare decurved).

decompound:

applied to leaves that are several times divided or compound.

decrescent:

decreasing, gradually growing less.

decumbent:

spreading horizontally at first but then growing upwards.

decurrent:

as when the edges of the leaf are continued down the stem or petiole as raised lines or narrow wings.

decurved:

angled downwards and curved or curled.

decussate:

in opposite pairs, with each pair at right angles to the one above and below it.

deflexed:

bent abruptly downwards or outwards (compare inflexed).

dehiscent / dehiscing (noun dehiscence):

opening spontaneously when ripe as in capsules and anthers.

deliquescent:

dissolving or melting away.

deltate:

shaped like an equal-sided triangle.

deltoid:

shaped ± like an equal-sided triangle.

dendritic / dendroid:

tree-like;
resembling the shape of a tree;
having a branched appearance.

dentate (of a margin):

prominently toothed, the teeth directed outwards.

denticulate:

finely toothed / dentate.

depressed:

± flattened from above downwards or at least at the top.

determinate (of an inflorescence):

with a bud or flower terminating the growth of the main axis (compare indeterminate).

dextrorse:

turned toward the right (compare sinistrorse).

di- (prefix):

two-.

diad (of a pollen grain):

two fused together (compare monad, tetrad).

diadelphous:

having the stamens united into two groups, or all but one united in a group and one free (e.g. many Fabaceae) (compare monadelphous).

diadem:

a crown.

diaphanous:

very thin and transparent.

dichasium (adj. dichasial):

a determinate type of cymose inflorescence having a central, older flower which develops frrst and a pair of opposite lateral branches bearing younger flowers (compare monochasium).

dichlamydeous:

said of a flower having two whorls of perianth parts.

dichotomous:

forking regularly into two equal branches.

dicotyledon:

a flowering plant having two cotyledons in the seed (compare monocotyledon).

dictyostelic:

with vascular bundles concentrically arranged with large overlapping leaf gaps, in the trunk.

didymous:

2-lobed;
(of anthers): distinctly 2-lobed but with almost no connective.

didynamous (of stamens):

with four in two pairs of unequal length, e.g. in Acanthaceae and Lamiaceae.

diffuse:

loosely and openly branching or spreading.

digitate:

like the fingers of a hand, with the members arising from the same point.

digitiform:

shaped like a finger.

dimidiate:

having one of two sides or parts more developed than the other.

dimorphic / dimorphous:

of two forms.

dioecious:

with unisexual flowers, the male and the female flowers on separate plants (compare monoecious).

diploid:

having two of the basic sets of chromosomes in the nucleus (compare haploid).

disarticulate:

breaking apart at the joints.

disc:

an enlargement of the receptacle within the calyx or within the corolla or stamens, usually in the form of a ring, cup or cushion, often lobed or even cut up into so-called (nectary) glands.

disc florets:

the central florets as compared with the outer ray florets in a head of the Asteraceae.

disciform (of heads of Asteraceae):

with central flowers perfect with tubular corollas, and the marginal flowers pistillate or neuter but without ligules, their corollas tubular or wanting.

discoid:

(1) like a disc or plate;
( 2) applied to the heads of Asteraceae without ray flowers.

discolorous:

of a leaf in which the two surfaces are unlike in colour (compare concolorous).

dissepiment:

a partition (septum) within an ovary or fruit, derived from fusion of adjacent carpels.

distal:

farther from the point of attachment or origin (compare proximal).

distichous:

regularly arranged one above the other in two opposite rows, one on each side of the stem or rachis.

diurnal:

happening during the day.

divaricate:

widely divergent or spreading in different directions, and often ± horizontal.

dizonasulculate (of a pollen grain):

with two ring-like sulci around the equator.

domatium (pl. domatia):

small swelling / pocket on the lower surface of the leaf of some woody dicotyledons in the axils of the primary veins, usually partly enclosed by leaf tissue or hairs.

dorsal:

relating to or situated on the face turned away from the axis;
(of a leaf): the lower surface;
(of a thallus): the upper surface, facing away from the substrate (compare ventral).

dorsifixed:

attached at or by its back, said e.g. of an anther to the filament.

dorsiventral:

flattened and having distinct dorsal and ventral surfaces, the two usually different, as in many leaves.

drupe (adj. drupaceous):

an indehiscent, fleshy fruit, usually 1-seeded, in which the pericarp is clearly tripartite: a tough exocarp, a fleshy mesocarp and a hard pericarp, found e.g. in plum or cherry, in Flacourtia and Ximenia and in the aggregate 'fruit' of e.g. Rubus (Rosaceae);
drupaceous often refers to a fruit that is drupe-like but not strictly a drupe (compare berry, pyrene).

drupelet:

a small drupe.

druse:

an aggregate of crystals within a cavity.

duplicate:

folded twice.

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e- (prefix):

often implying absence of something, e.g. in ebracteate, eglandular.

ebracteate:

without bracts.

ecalcarate:

without a spur.

ecallose:

without callus / calli.

ecalyculate:

without a calyculus.

ecaudate:

without a tail-like tip or appendage.

echinate:

covered with prickles like a hedgehog.

echinolophate (of a pollen grain):

lophate with echinate ridges.

echinulate:

covered with small, pointed spines.

ectoaperture:

????

effuse:

spreading out loosely, especially of an inflorescence.

efoliate:

without leaves.

eglandular:

having no glands.

elaiosome:

an appendage of a seed, usually rich in oil, attractive to animals (especially ants) and hence an aid to dispersal by such animals.

eligulate:

without a ligule.

ellipsoid:

an elliptic solid.

elliptic:

in the form of a flattened circle more than twice as long as broad.

emarginate:

notched at the extremity.

embryo:

the rudimentary plant still enclosed in the seed, consisting of the radicle from which the root develops, the cotyledons (one, two, rarely more), which become the earliest leaves, and the plumule, the bud from which the stem and further leaves develop.

embryo sac:

????

emergent / emersed:

with part of the plant aerial and the rest submersed;
with part extending out of the water.

endemic:

having a natural distribution confined to a particular geographical region.

endocarp (adj. endocarpal):

the innermost layer of the wall of a fruit.

endosperm:

formerly called albumen, the nutritive material (mealy, oily, fleshy or horny), formed in the embryo sac after fertilisation and stored within the seed and often surrounding the embryo (compare perisperm).

endothecium (adj. endothecial):

the inner lining of the theca of an anther.

enervate:

without nerves.

ensiform:

sword-shaped.

entire:

with an even margin without teeth, lobes, etc.

entomophilous (of pollination):

effected by insects (compare anemophilous, hydrophilous, ornithophilous).

epaleate:

without paleae.

epapillate:

without papillae.

epappose:

without a pappus.

epi- (prefix):

on, upon, above, over.

epicalyx:

an involucre of bracts arising below the flower, resembling an extra calyx, as in some Malvaceae (see also calyculus).

epicarp:

the outer layer of the wall of a fruit (see also pericarp).

epichile (of an orchid flower):

apical portion of a longitudinally two- or three-partite lip.

epidermis (adj. epidermal):

the outermost layer of cells of an organ, usually only one cell thick.

epigeal:

describing seed germination in which the cotyledons emerge from the seed and are elevated above the soil surface (compare hypogeal).

epigynous:

applied to the flower when the sepals, petals and stamens are apparently borne above the ovary, the latter being enclosed in an adnate receptacle or calyx tube (compare hypogynous, perigynous).

epilithic:

living on rocks (= lithophytic).

epipetalous:

borne on the petals.

epiphyte (adj. epiphytic):

a plant that grows on another plant but without deriving nourishment from it, i.e. not parasitic, as some ferns and orchids growing on trees.

episepal:

an epicalyx segment.

episepalous (of stamens):

borne on the sepals.

epitropous / epitropic (of an anatropous ovule):

with its raphe facing the placenta when pendulous, facing away from it when ascending.

equitant (literally riding, astride); (of leaves):

folded sharply in half along the midline so that the adaxial surface is hidden and the margins overlap both margins of a similarly folded leaf on the opposite side of the stem, thus creating a 2-ranked arrangement typically found in Iridaceae (compare obvolute).

ericoid:

resembling plants of the family Ericaceae, especially their small, tough leaves.

erose:

applied to a margin which is irregularly eroded, gnawed or jagged.

estipitate:

having no stipe.

estrophiolate:

having no strophiole.

evagination:

something that is inside out.

evanescent:

disappearing quickly.

evergreen:

????

ex- (prefix):

often implying absence of something, e.g. exstipulate.

exalbuminous:

without albumen / endosperm.

exannulate:

without an annulus or other ring-like structure.

excrescence:

an outgrowth or protuberance, e.g. on the stem of a tree.

excurrent:

extending beyond the apex or margin of a leaf into a mucro or awn.

exfoliate:

peeling off in layers or shreds.

eximbricate:

not imbricate.

exine:

outer wall of spores and pollen grains, usually divided into different layers.

exocarp:

the outer layer of the pericarp.

exserted:

projecting beyond, as the stamens from the tube of the corolla (compare included).

exstipulate:

without stipules.

extra-axillary:

beyond or outside the axil.

extra-floral (of nectaries):

not within the flower.

extrastaminal (e.g. of the corona):

outside the stamen whorl.

extrorse:

of an anther which opens outwardly towards the circumference of the flower (compare introrse).

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facultative (of parasites):

optional (compare obligate).

falcate:

curved like a scythe.

family:

a group of one to many genera believed to be related phylogenetically, usually clearly separable from other such groups;
the major taxonomic group between genus and order.

farinose:

covered with mealy powder resembling flour.

fascicle (adj. fascicled / fasciculate):

a cluster of flowers, leaves, etc. arising at about the same point.

fasciclodes: (eg. in Clusiaceae)

????

fastigiate:

strictly erect and ± parallel to other members, e.g. with reference to stems or branches.

faucal:

of the throat of a gamopetalous corolla.

fenestrate:

having openings or translucent areas ('windows').

ferrugin(e)ous:

rust-coloured.

fetid:

see foetid.

fibril:

submicroscopic thread or fibre that constitutes the form in which cellulose occurs in the cell wall.

fibrillose:

covered with small fibres.

-fid (suffix):

indicating number of parts into which an organ is cleft (divided up to ± the middle).

filament:

the stalk of a stamen supporting the anther;
a thin thread.

filamentous:

thread-like.

filiform:

slender, thread-like.

fimbriate:

with the margin bordered by long, slender, hair-like processes.

fimbrillate / fimbrilliferous:

minutely fimbriate.

fistular:

hollow throughout its length, like a pipe but closed at the ends.

flabellate:

fan-like.

flaccid:

weak, limp, lax or flabby, tending to wilt (compare turgid).

flag leaf:

the first leaf below the inflorescence.

flexuose / flexuous:

zigzag or bent alternately in opposite directions.

floccose:

covered with woolly hairs which tend to rub off and adhere in small masses.

floral:

belonging to or associated with a flower.

florescence:

inflorescence with a cluster of flowers terminating the main axis, but not terminating with a flower and hence apex of florescence remaining indeterminate forming exclusively lateral flowers.

floret:

small individual flowers that make up a (dense) inflorescence, as those in the heads of Asteraceae or the spikelets of Poaceae.

floricane:

a flowering and fruiting stem, especially of brambles (Rubus spp. - Rosaceae).

flower:

the sexual reproductive structure of angiosperms, typically consisting of gynoecium, androecium and perianth and the axis / receptacle bearing these parts.

foetid / fetid:

having a disagreeable odour.

foliaceous:

leaf-like.

foliar:

of or relating to a leaf.

foliolate:

having leaflets.

follicle (adj. follicular):

a fruit formed from a single carpel opening usually only along the inner (i.e. ventral) suture to which the seeds are attached.

forb:

a non-woody plant other than a grass, sedge, rush, etc. (compare herb).

-form (suffix):

superficially resembling; e.g. an umbelliform inflorescence is one that resembles, but is not a true umbel.

fornix (pl. fornices):

a small scale.

foveate:

pitted.

foveolate:

marked with small pitting.

free:

neither adhering nor united.

free-basal placenta:

one in which the ovules are attached to a central column arising from the base of the ovary cavity and not reaching the top, e.g. in Primulaceae.

free-central placenta:

the same but reaching to the top of the cavity, e.g. in most Caryophyllaceae.

frond:

leaf of a fern, palm or cycad, or the thallus of e.g. Lemnaceae.

frondose:

leafy.

frutescent:

becoming shrub-like (woody).

fruticose:

shrub-like.

fugaceous:

lasting only for a short time.

fugitive:

moving from place to place;
evanescent, quickly fading or perishable, volatile.

fulvous:

tawny.

funicle / funiculus:

the stalk which attaches the ovule to the placenta.

funnelform:

funnel-shaped, gradually widening upwards.

furcate:

forked.

fuscous:

of a brownish grey colour.

fusiform:

spindle-shaped, thick but tapering towards each end.

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galea:

a petal shaped like a helmet;
the strongly concave upper lip (petal) of some bilabiate corollas.

galeate:

helmet-shaped;
having a galea.

gamete:

a haploid cell or nucleus that fuses with another, of opposite sex, in sexual reproduction.

gametophyte:

a plant, or phase of a plant's life cycle, that bears gametes.

gamopetalous:

with the petals united, either entirely or at the base into a tube, cup or ring (see also choripetalous, sympetalous; compare polypetalous).

gamosepalous:

with united sepals.

gamotepalous:

with united tepals.

gasteriform:

shaped like a belly;
(of a perianth tube, e.g. in Gasteria - Asphodelaceae): basally inflated.

gemma (pl. gemmae):

an adventitious bud capable of reproducing the plant;
a process found on pollen grains.

gemmiferous:

bearing gemmae.

geniculate:

bent like a knee.

genome:

a complete haploid set of chromosomes, as present in a gamete.

genotype:

the total complement of hereditary factors (genes) acquired by an organism from its parents and available for transmission to its offspring (compare phenotype).

genus (pl. genera):

a group of species believed to be related phylogenetically and usually clearly separable from other such groups, or a single species without close relatives;
the major taxonomic rank between species and family.

geocarpic / geocarpous:

referring to the development of fruits in the ground originating from flowers which developed and were pollinated above ground.

geophyte:

a perennial plant, usually herbaceous, with renewal buds located on the plant below the soil surface, as on bulbs or rhizomes.

geoxylic:

of a woody plant with numerous stems arising from a subterranean rhizome.

gibbosity (usually of a calyx or corolla):

a pouch-like swelling or hump.

gibbous:

with a gibbosity.

glabrate:

glabrous, but obviously having previously had an indumentum.

glabrescent:

becoming glabrous or nearly so.

glabrous:

devoid of hairs.

gland (adj. glandular / glandulose):

(1) secreting structure on the surface or embedded in the substance of a leaf, flower, etc., or raised on a stalk (glandular hairs or stipitate glands);
( 2) a warty protuberance or fleshy excrescence (often on petiole, inflorescence, or within the flower);
( 3) (see corpuscle).

glaucous:

pale bluish green or with a pale bloom.

globose:

± spherical or rounded.

glochid / glochidium (pl. glochidia; adj. glochidiate):

barbed bristle or hooked hair.

glomerate:

compactly clustered.

glomerule (adj. glomerulate):

a small compact cluster. glumaceous: resembling the glumes of Poaceae.

glume:

a bract, usually chaffy, in the spikelets of Cyperaceae, Poaceae and similar plants.

glutinous:

with a sticky exudate.

granulose / granulate:

finely covered with very small granules.

gregarious:

growing in groups or colonies.

guide rails:

see gynostegial grooves.

gymnosperm:

a seed plant with the ovules borne on the surface of a sporophyll (compare angiosperm).

gynobase:

a dilation or prolongation of the receptacle which bears carpels / nutlets (e.g. in Boraginaceae).

gynobasic (of the style):

arising apparently from the base of the gynoecium, e.g. between the lobes of the ovary, as in Boraginaceae and Lamiaceae.

gynodioecious:

having bisexual flowers and female flowers on separate plants (compare gynomonoecious).

gynoecium:

the female part of the flower, consisting, when complete, of ovary, style and stigma, also called pistil.

gynomonoecious:

having bisexual and female flowers on the same plant (compare gynodioecious).

gynophore:

a stalk supporting the gynoecium and formed by an elongation of the receptacle.

gynostegial corona:

collective term for the staminal and interstaminal coronas, both of which are associated with the gynostegium.

gynostegial grooves:

the grooves between the lateral margins of adjacent anthers fused to the style head, in Apocynaceae (also known as anther slits, anther wings or guide rails) (see also gynostegium).

gynostegium (pl. gynostegia):

a structure formed by the union of the stamens with part of the pistil, as in Apocynaceae.

gynostemium (pl. gynostemia):

the column in the centre of flowers of Orchidaceae formed by the union of the stamen with part of the gynoecium.

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habitat:

the environment in which a plant lives.

hair type B (in tribe Gnaphalieae - Asteraceae):

with one basal cell and a very long terminal cell.

half-inferior (of an ovary):

partly below and partly above the level of attachment of perianth and stamens.

halophilous:

salt-loving.

halophyte:

a plant that grows in very salty soil.

haploid:

having a single set of unpaired chromosomes, as in the nucleus of one of the gametes.

hapteron (pl. haptera):

flattened organ, without vascular tissue, attaching the thalli of Podostemaceae to the substrate by a cement-like substance.

hastate:

applied to the base of a leaf when it has two more or less triangular lobes diverging laterally.

hastula (in palms with palmate leaves):

the outgrowth from the top of the leaf stalk (rachis).

haustorium (pl. haustoria):

a specialised root of parasitic plants capable of penetrating host tissue and thus absorbing nutrients.

head:

a dense inflorescence of sessile or nearly sessile flowers on a compound receptacle (see also capitulum).

helical:

shaped like a helix / spiral.

helicoid:

coiled;
(of a cymose inflorescence): branching repeatedly on the same side.

heliophilous:

sun-loving.

helophytic:

growing in marshes.

herb:

any vascular plant that never produces a woody stem (compare forb).

herbaceous:

not woody;
soft in texture.

hermaphrodite (adj. hermaphroditic):

an organism or structure possessing both male and female reproductive organs, e.g. a flower with both stamens and pistil (= bisexual).

hemiparasitic (eg. in Scrophulariaceae)

???? (see also holoparasytic)

heteroblastic:

having the adult parts of the plant (especially the leaves) distinctly different in form from the juvenile parts.

heterocarpic / heterocarpous:

having carpels or fruit of more than one kind.

heterocarpy:

having two kinds of fruit.

heterodistylous:

said of a species in which two kinds of plants occur, those with long styles and those with short styles.

heterogamous:

of different sexes;
(of a flowerhead, as in some Asteraceae): having two kinds of florets, those of the ray florets being neuter or unisexual and those of the disc florets bisexual;
of spikelet pairs in Poaceae: consisting of a sterile and a female-fertile spikelet (compare homogamous).

heteromorphic:

of different forms (compare homomorphic).

heterophyllous:

having leaves of different forms (compare anisophyllous, isophyllous).

heterosporous:

having two types of haploid spores (compare homosporous).

heterostylous:

applied to a species which has flowers with styles differing in length or shape (compare homostylous ).

heterothetic (of a compound raceme):

composed of a terminal as well as lateral racemes.

hilum (adj. hilar):

the scar left on the seed where it was attached to the funicle or placenta.

hippocrepiform:

horseshoe-shaped.

hirsute:

with rather coarse, stiff hairs (compare villous).

hirsutulous:

minutely hirsute.

hispid:

bristly pubescent.

hispidulous:

minutely hispid.

hoary:

covered with white or greyish white, very short, closely interwoven hairs.

holonectary (e.g. in Mesembryanthemaceae):

a nectary forming a continuous ring.

holoparasitic: (eg. in Scrophulariaceae)

???? (see also hemiparasitic)

homogamous:

applied to a flowerhead / capitulum with all the flowers of the same kind;
or to spikelet pairs in Poaceae that are of the same sexuality (compare heterogamous).

homomorphic / homomorphous:

uniform in shape (compare heteromorphic).

homonym (in nomenclature):

a name spelled exactly like a validly published name for a taxon of the same rank based on a different type.

homosporus:

having only one type of haploid spore (compare heterosporous).

homostylous:

species in which the flowers have stigmas and anthers held at the same level relative to each other on all plants (compare heterostylous).

hood (in flowers of Asclepiadoideae-Apocynaceae):

a concave segment of the corona.

host:

an organism on which a parasite lives and by which it it nourished (also applied, loosely, to a plant supporting an epiphyte).

humifuse:

lying or spreading on the ground.

hyaline:

almost transparent.

hydathode:

a minute pore or specialised structure through which water is discharged from a leaf by guttation;
sometimes differentiated as secretory trichomes.

hydrophily (adj. hydrophilous) (of pollination):

effected by water.

hydrophyte (adj. hydrophytic):

a plant living in water or in a very moist habitat;
an aquatic plant.

hygrochastic:

applied to plants in which opening of the fruit and dispersion of the spores or seeds are caused by absorption of water.

hygrophytes (adj. hygrophytic):

marsh plants or plants that need a large supply of moisture for their growth.

hygroscopic:

readily absorbing and retaining moisture from the atmosphere, resulting in changes in form or position of certain cells or structures.

hypanthium (pl. hypanthia):

a cup or tube bearing floral parts above the base, and often above the top of the ovary of a flower, e.g. in many Myrtales or Onagraceae (see also calyx tube).

hypochile (of an orchid flower):

the basal part of a longitudinally two- or three-partite lip.

hypocotyl:

the part of the stem of an embryo or young seedling below the cotyledonary node.

hypocrateriform:

see salverform.

hypogeal:

growing or remaining below ground;
describing seed germination in which the cotyledons remain below the soil surface (compare epigeal).

hypogynium (pl. hypogynia):

portion of the receptacle below the ovary, e.g. in Cyperaceae.

hypogynous:

having the flower parts attached below the base of the ovary and free from it;
flowers with this arrangement have a superior ovary (compare epigynous, perigynous).

hypsophyll:

leaf borne at the upper level of a plant, as with various floral bracts;
some possibly have a protective function.

hysteranthous (of leaves):

appearing after the flowers (compare synanthous).

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I.C.B.N.:

International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.

idioblast:

a cell that differs from those around it in the same tissue.

illegitimate (of a validly published name):

contrary to one or more articles of the C.B.I.N.

imbricate:

(1) overlapping like tiles;
( 2) applied to parts in a flower bud where one sepal or petal is wholly internal and one wholly external and the others are overlapping at the edge only.

immaculate:

without spot or stain;
pure, unblemished, undefiled.

immarginate:

not margined or bordered.

imparipinnate:

having an uneven number of pinnae, by virtue of having one terminal pinna.

imperforate:

not perforated.

inaperturate (of a pollen grain):

without germinal pores.

incised:

margin cut rather deeply and sharply.

included:

not projecting (compare exserted).

incrassate:

thickened.

incumbent:

resting or lying (on);
(of the orientation of an embryo): with the cotyledons lying face to face and folded downwards beside the radicle (as in some Brassicaceae);
(of anthers): lying against the inner face of the filament.

incurved:

bent or curved inwards or upwards;
(of leaf margins): curved towards the adaxial surface.

indefinite:

variable in number;
numerous;
many;
(of stamens): more than twice as many as the petals or sepals;
(of an inflorescence): not terminating in a flower, i.e. having a continuing terminal growing point.

indehiscent:

not opening when ripe.

indeterminate:

(1) (of an inflorescence): the lateral or lower flowers mature first while the primary axis continues to grow, hence the terminal flower is the last to open, therefore a racemose inflorescence (compare cymose).
( 2) (of growth): (= monopodial) the condition in which the terminal bud persists and produces successive lateral branches.

indumentum:

any covering of a surface such as hairs, wool, scales.

induplicate:

with margins (of petals or sepals) folded inwards but not overlapping.

indurated:

hardened.

indusium (pl. indusia):

a cup covering the stigma, as in Goodeniaceae.

inferior:

beneath or below, as in a calyx which is below the ovary, the latter then being superior;
as in an ovary which appears to be below the calyx, the latter being adherent to the ovary.

inflexed:

bent sharply inwards, upwards or forwards (compare deflexed).

inflorescence:

the arrangement of the flowers.

infra- (prefix):

below;
beneath.

infructescence:

the arrangement of fruits on a plant.

infundibular / infundibuliform:

funnel-shaped.

inrolled:

see involute.

insectivorous:

catching, and presumably feeding on, insects.

inserted:

attached, included.

insertion:

place of attachment.

integument:

one of the outer layers of tissue of an ovule.

intercalary (of growth):

between apex and base, not apical.

internode:

the portion of a stem between two nodes (compare node).

interpetiolar:

applied to stipules placed between the petioles of opposite leaves (often connate).

intersepalar:

between the sepals.

interstaminal corona:

fleshy lobes, often connate into a tube, attached to the base of the staminal column in the interstarninal areas (compare gynostegial corona, staminal corona).

interstice:

space between structures.

interstitial:

situated in interstices or spaces between structures.

interstitial growth:

a type of growth occurring in organs that do not have specific or localised meristematic regions;
all-over growth, as in some fruits.

intrapetiolar:

between the petiole and the stem (compare interpetiolar).

intrastaminal:

between the stamens.

introduced:

not indigenous;
not native to the area in which it now occurs (compare adventive, naturalised).

introflexed:

see inflexed.

introrse:

applied to an anther opening towards the centre of the flower.

intruse:

projecting or pushed out, in or forward.

invested:

covered tightly;
the focus is on the tight fit, e.g. an integument invests a seed.

involucel:

involucre of bracteoles surrounding a secondary inflorescence such as the base of an umbellule.

involucrate:

having an involucre of some kind.

involucre / involucrum (adj. involucral):

a number of bracts, e.g. those surrounding the base of a flowerhead / capitulum or of an umbel.

involute:

having the edges of the leaves rolled towards the adaxial surface (compare revolute).

irregular (of a flower, calyx or corolla):

bilaterally symmetrical, symmetrical about one plane only, usually the plane that bisects the flower vertically along the longitudinal axis;
(= zygomorphic) (compare actinomorphlc, regular).

isobilateral (= isolateral) (of a leaf):

having structurally similar upper and lower surfaces.

isophyllous:

????? (compare anisophyllous, heterophyllous).

isopolar (of a pollen grain):

with the equatorial plane dividing the grain into similar halves, i.e. the proximal and distal faces are similar.

isthmus (pl. isthmi):

a narrow part or organ connecting two larger parts.

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jugate:

coupled or yoked together, applied especially to the leaflets of a pinnate leaf.

K

keel (syn. carina):

a ridge like the keel of a boat;
in Fabaceae a boat-shaped structure formed by the fusion of the two anterior petals.

keeled:

ridged along the middle of a flat or convex surface.

kneed:

having a knee-like joint.

L

labellum:

a lip (see lip).

lacerate:

cut irregularly;
appearing tom, as in certain leaves and ligules.

lacinia (pl. laciniae):

a slender lobe.

laciniate:

cut into slender, pointed lobes.

lacinulate:

finely laciniate.

lacuna (pl. lacunae):

(1) an internal air space or chamber, usually between cells, as in leaf, stem and root tissues; also any space within a cell;
( 2) a leaf gap as viewed in cross sections of stem nodes.

lacunar:

referring to or arising from lacunae.

lacunose:

full of lacunae;
having air-cells.

laevigate:

see levigate.

lageniform:

shaped like a Florence flask.

lamella (pl. lamellae; adj. lamellate):

a thin plate or layer.

lamina (pl. laminae):

the limb, blade or expanded part of a leaf, sepal or petal.

lanate:

woolly.

lanceolate:

lance-shaped;
about four times as long as broad, broadest in the lower half and tapering toward the apex.

lanuginose:

cottony, similar to lanate, but with shorter trichomes (hairs).

latex:

a viscous fluid exuded from the cut surfaces of leaves and stems of certain plants.

latiseptate:

with broad partitions (compare angustiseptate).

latrorse (of anthers):

opening laterally, i.e. towards adjacent anthers.

leaf gap:

gap left in the vascular system at the node of a stem at the point where the vascular element supplying the leaf, branches off.

leaflet:

the ultimate member of a compound leaf.

legume:

a simple fruit, consisting of a single carpel, usually dry and usually opening along both sutures into two halves, e.g. in the Fabaceae;
any member of the Fabaceae.

lemma:

the lower of two bracts enclosing the florets of Poaceae.

lenticels (adj. lenticellate):

corky spots on the bark through which gaseous exchange occurs.

lenticular:

shaped like a biconvex lens.

lepidote:

clothed with small, scurfy scales.

levigate:

having a smooth, polished surface.

lianalliane:

a woody climber with rope-like stems.

ligneous:

of or resembling wood.

lignified:

woody, due to the deposition of lignin in cell walls.

lignotuber (adj. lignotuberous):

a woody swelling at the base of the shoot system below or just above the ground, containing adventitious buds from which new shoots develop if the top of the plant is cut off or burned.

ligulate:

strap-shaped, applied e.g. to the ray florets in many Asteraceae.

ligule:

(1) a thin, membranous and / or hairy appendage at the top of the leaf sheath as in Poaceae;
( 2) the limb of ray florets in Asteraceae.

limb:

the upper, usually expanded part of the calyx or corolla above the tube, throat or claw.

linear:

long and very narrow in relation to the length and with parallel edges (compare lorate).

lineolate:

marked with fine lines.

lingulate:

tongue-shaped.

lip:

(1) one of two divisions of a gamosepalous calyx or a gamopetalous corolla when it is cleft into an upper (posterior) and a lower (anterior) portion (see bilabiate);
( 2) of an orchid: the lowest petal (the inner median perianth lobe), usually enlarged and different in form from the two lateral ones (= labellum).

lithophyte (adj. lithophytic):

a plant that grows on rocks (= epilithic).

lobe:

any division or segment of an organ (usually rounded);
specifically a part of a leaf, petal or calyx cut less than halfway to the centre.

lobulate / lobuled:

having small lobes.

lobules:

small lobes.

locellate:

divided into small secondary compartments.

locular:

having chambers; thus:
unilocular = one-chambered;
bilocular = two-chambered, etc.

locule / loculus:

a chamber or cell of an ovary or fruit or anther containing ovules or seeds or pollen grains.

loculicidal:

referring to the dehiscence of a fruit which splits down the middle of the cells or locules (i.e. the midrib or dorsal suture) and not at the line of junction of the carpels, e.g. in most Liliaceae (in wide sense) (compare septicidal).

lodicule / lodicula (pl. lodiculae):

a small scale outside the stamens in flowers of the Poaceae.

loment / lomentum:

modified legume fruit with constrictions between the seeds, which at maturity separates at the constrictions into 1–seeded segments.

lophate (of a pollen grain):

with the outer exine raised in a pattern of ridges.

lophomorphic:

crested.

lorate (syn. loriform):

strap-shaped;
moderately long with parallel sides (compare linear).

lumen:

the cavity of a plant cell.

lunate / luniform:

shaped like the waxing moon.

lunulate:

finely lunate.

lyrate:

applied to a leaf which is pinnately lobed or cut into small segments below, but with a much larger terminal lobe.

lysigenous:

originating by dissolution of cells.

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maculate (noun maculation):

spotted or blotched.

mallee:

scrub vegetation composed mainly of *Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) about 2-10 m high in dry, subtropical parts of southwest and southeast Australia.

mam(m)iIlate:

having small nipple-shaped projections.

marcescent:

withering without falling off.

marginal:

occurring at or very close to the margin.

marginal placentation:

the type of placentation found in a gynoecium consisting of a single carpel or of two or more free carpels and where the margins of the carpel(s) have become united to form a suture along which the ovules are borne (see also axile placentation and parietal placentation).

marginate / margined:

having a margin of distinct colour or texture.

marmorate:

marbled, having coloured veins.

medial / median:

of or situated in the middle.

medifixed:

fixed by the middle, e.g. of an anther (compare basifixed, dorsifixed, versatile);
(of a hair): ± T -shaped with the stem much shorter than the crossbar.

medulla:

the pith of a stem.

megaspore:

the larger of the two kinds of spores produced in the sexual life cycle of a heterosporous plant, giving rise to the female gametophyte.

membranous / membranaceous:

of thin, translucent texture.

mentum:

an extension of the base of the column in the flower of some Orchidaceae.

mericarp:

one segment of a fruit that breaks at maturity into units derived from the individual carpels, e.g. in Apiaceae or Malvaceae (see also schizocarp).

meridional:

running in a north-south direction, from apex to base.

meristem (adj. meristematic):

growing region of a plant in which cells which have retained their embryonic characteristics, or have reverted to them secondarily, divide to produce new cells.

–merous (suffix):

indicating number of parts, e.g. flowers 5-merous where floral organs are present in 5s.

mesocarp:

the fleshy portion of the wall of a succulent fruit inside the skin and outside the stony layer, if any, surrounding the seed(s) (see also pericarp).

mesochile (of flowers of certain Orchidaceae):

the middle portion of a longitudinally two– or three–partite lip.

mesomorphic:

having characteristics suited to growing in environments that are neither very dry nor very wet. (compare xeromorphic)

mesophyll:

photosynthetic tissue of a green plant.

mesophyte (adj. mesophytic):

plants which grow in environments that are neither very wet nor very dry;
plants intermediate in moisture requirements between hydrophytes and xerophytes.

micropyle:

a minute canal through the integument(s) of an ovule through which the pollen tube enters and which persists as a pore in the seed coat.

microsporangium (pl. microsporangia) (in an anther):

the chamber in which the pollen is formed (= pollen sac) (see anther).

microspore:

the smaller of the two kinds of spores produced in the sexual life cycle of a heterosporous plant, giving rise to the male gametophyte.

midrib:

the principal, usually central nerve of a leaf or leaf-like part.

mitriform / mitre–shaped:

shaped like a bishop's cap.

monad (of pollen grains):

single, not fused to others (compare diad, tetrad).

monadelphous (of stamens):

in one bundle, e.g. in certain Fabaceae and Malvaceae.

moniliform:

like a string of beads.

mono- (prefix):

one;
single.

monocarpic:

applied to a plant which flowers and fruits only once and then dies (compare polycarpic).

monochasium (pl. monochasia; adj. monochasial):

a cyme reduced to single flowers on each axis (the laterals of the dichasium having been lost by reduction).

monochlamydeous:

with a perianth of a single whorl of similar parts (tepals).

monocotyledon:

a flowering plant having a single cotyledon in the seed (compare dicotyledon).

monoecious:

with male and female flowers separate but borne on the same individual plant.

monolete:

with the dehiscence line unbranched, as in bilateral spores.

monomerous:

formed of a single member.

monomorphic / monomorphous:

of one form only.

monophyletic:

derived from a single ancestral line (compare polyphyletic).

monopodial (of growth):

with a persistent terminal growing point producing many lateral organs successively (compare sympodial).

monosulcate (of a pollen grain):

having a single longitudinal groove or sulcus.

monothecous (of an anther):

having one theca.

monovalent / univalent:

a single, unpaired chromosome during meiosis.

morchelliform:

shaped like a morel (a fungus of the genus Morchella which has a pitted cap).

mucilage (adj. mucilaginous):

a gelatinous substance which absorbs water and increases in bulk.

mucous:

slimy.

mucronate:

ending abruptly in a short stiff point which is a continuation of the midrib.

mucronulate:

finely mucronate.

multifid:

divided into many lobes or segments.

muricate:

rough, with short hard tubercles or pointed protuberances.

muriculate:

finely muricate.

muticous:

blunt, without a point.

mycorrhiza:

a symbiotic union between a fungus and a plant root.

mycotrophic:

of a plant possessing mycorrhiza.

myxogenic:

capable of forming mucus (when wetted).

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naked (of seeds):

exposed on the surface of a sporophyll (not enclosed within an ovary);
(of flowers): without perianth.

-nate (suffix):

indicating number of parts in a group, e.g.leaves 3-nate = three leaves in a group or cluster.

naturalised:

introduced and reproducing itself without human assistance (compare adventive, introduced).

navicular / naviculate / naviculiform:

boat -shaped.

nectar guides:

floral orientation cues directing a pollinator to the nectar.

nectary / nectarium (adj. nectariferous):

any structure that secretes nectar.

nerves:

the principal or more conspicuous veins or ribs of a leaf or other organ.

net-veined:

with the smaller veins connected like meshes of a net;
reticulate.

nigropunctate:

with black dots.

nitid:

glossy, lustrous, smooth and clear.

nitrophilous:

of a plant that grows well in soil rich in nitrogen.

node:

the point on the stem at which a leaf or leaves and accompanying organs arise (compare internode).

nodose:

having knots or being knobby, usually in reference to roots, especially in the legumes (Fabaceae).

nucellus:

the female sporangium (megasporangium) within the ovule.

nut:

a one-seeded indehiscent fruit, with a hard, dry pericarp (the shell).

nutlet:

a little nut.

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ob- (prefix):

inverse or inversely, e.g. obovate = inversely ovate.

obconic:

inversely conical, with the point of attachment at the small end.

obcordate:

more or less heart-shaped but with the narrow end below, and the broad end deeply notched.

obdiplostemonous (of a flower):

with the stamens in two alternating whorls, the outer whorl opposite the petals and the inner opposite the sepals.

oblanceolate:

inversely lanceolate;
with the broadest portion nearest the apex and tapering toward the base.

oblate:

transversely broadly elliptic.

obligate (of parasites):

unable to survive without the host (compare facultative).

oblique:

of unequal sides, e.g. applied to a leaf with the two sides of the blade unequal at the base.

obloid:

a solid, near elliptic shape depressed at the poles.

oblong:

much longer than broad, with nearly parallel sides.

obovate:

ovate with the broadest part above.

obovoid:

solid shape of obovate outline.

obsolete:

reduced to a rudiment, or completely lacking (compare rudimentary, vestigial).

obtrullate:

inversely trullate;
angular-obovate, i.e. shaped like an inverted trowel, broadest above the middle with two equal sides meeting at base and two shorter straight sides meeting at apex.

obturator:

a small protuberance, generally of placental origin, which grows into the space between nucellus and integument, or between the ovule and the ovary wall.

obtuse:

blunt or rounded at the end.

obpyramidal:

Shallowly triangular with the attachment at the point rather than the middle of the flat side.
(http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/obpyramidal.html/ )

obvolute:

of a leaf folded along the midline with one margin overlapping one margin of a similarly folded leaf on the opposite side, i.e. half-equitant.

ocellate:

with a small eye;
marked with two-coloured spots having a centre of one colour surrounded by a broad ring of another.

ocrea (pl. ocreae; adj. ocreate):

a tubular stipule sheathing the stem (e.g. in Polygonum-Polygonaceae).

-oid (suffix):

indicates likeness, resemblance or similarity, or
something having the form or nature of something else;
e.g. racemoid: resembling a raceme;
petaloid: resembling a petal.

opaque:

not transparent;
dull, not shining.

operculate:

with a cap or lid.

operculum:

(1) a lid, cap or cover;
( 2) the thickened tips of integuments of certain angiosperm ovules.

opposite:

(1) pertaining to leaves or branches when two are borne at the same node on opposite sides of the stem;
( 2) one part before another, as a stamen in front of a petal.

orbicular:

flat with a ± circular outline.

orifice:

opening.

ornithophilous (of pollination):

effected by birds.

orthotropous (of an ovule):

erect so that the micropyle points away from the placenta.

osseous:

bony.

ostiole:

an opening or pore, e.g. at the apex of the figs of Ficus (Moraceae).

oval:

broadly elliptic.

ovary:

that part of the pistil (the usually enlarged base) which contains the ovules and eventually becomes the fruit.

ovate:

with the outline of an egg: scarcely twice as long as broad, with the broader end below the middle.

oviform:

egg-shaped.

ovoid:

solid shape of ovate outline.

ovule:

the immature seed in the ovary before fertilisation.

ovulode:

a sterile ovule.

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palate:

in sympetalous corollas, the raised projection of the lower lip which closes or very nearly closes the throat.

palea (pl. paleae; adj. paleate):

(1) one of the chaffy scales or thin colourless bracts amongst the flowers on the receptacle, in Asteraceae;
( 2) the inner of two bracts enclosing the floret, in Poaceae.

paleaceous:

with small membranous scales;
chaffy.

pallid:

pale in colour.

palmate (of a leaf):

shaped like the palm and fingers of a hand (see digitate).

palmatifid (of a leaf):

with the margin palmately cleft to less than halfway to the base.

palmatilobed (of a leaf):

palmately divided to about halfway to the midrib.

palmatipartite (of a leaf):

palmately divided almost to the midrib.

palmatisect (of a leaf):

palmately divided down to the midrib.

pandurate / panduriform:

fiddle-shaped.

panicle (adj. paniculate):

a compound raceme;
an indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are borne on branches of the main axis or on further branches of these.

pantoporate (of a pollen grain):

with apertures scattered over the whole surface.

papilionaceous / papilionoid:

applied to flowers with a 'butterfly-like' appearance, as in many Papilionoideae-Fabaceae and Polygalaceae.

papilla (pl. papillae):

a soft, nipple-shaped protuberance;
a type of trichome.

papillate:

having papillae.

papillose:

covered with minute, nipple-like protuberances.

pappus:

the ring of hairs or scales around the top of the fruit (as in Asteraceae) and perhaps representing the calyx limb.

papule:

a pimple or small pustule.

papulose:

covered with papillae.

papyraceous:

(1) papery;
( 2) white as paper.

paracarpous (of an ovary):

with carpels joined by the margins only.

paracytic:

of a stoma accompanied on either side by one or more subsidiary cells parallel to the long axis of the pore and guard cells.

paraphyletic (of a group of taxa):

derived from a single ancestral taxon, but which does not contain all the descendants of the most recent ancestor.

paraphyses:

sterile, hair-like, basally attached structures.

parasite:

an organism living on or in a different organism and deriving nourishment from it (compare epiphyte, saprophyte).

parchment-like:

like skin or leather.

parenchyma:

plant tissue consisting of mature living cells that are relatively unspecialised in function.

parietal placentation:

placentation with the ovules borne on the inner surface of the wall of the ovary or on intrusions of the wall that form incomplete partitions or false septa (compare axile placentation and marginal placentation).

paripinnate:

of a pinnate leaf without an odd terminal leaflet.

-partite (suffix):

cleft nearly but not quite to the base.

patelliform:

shaped like a knee-cap.

patent:

spreading out widely, e.g. patent branches.

pauciserrate:

sparsely serrate.

pectinate:

like a comb.

pedate:

resembling palmate, but the side lobes further divided.

pedicel (adj. pedicellate / pedicelled):

the stalk of an individual flower.

peduncle (adj. pedunculate / peduncled / peduncular):

the stalk of an inflorescence;
the common stalk (rachis or axis) of several pedicellate or sessile flowers.

pellucid:

translucent.

peltate:

applied to a leaf, or sometimes some other organ with a stalk, of which the stalk is attached to its undersurface instead of to its edge.

pendent / pendulous (of ovules):

arising on and hanging down from an apical placenta.

penicillate:

with a tuft of hairs at the end.

penni-parallel-veined:

pinnately parallel-veined.

penninerved:

pinnately nerved.

pentamerous:

having parts in fives or multiples of five.

perennial:

a plant whose life span extends over more than two growing seasons.

perfoliate (of a sessile leaf or bract):

having its base completely wrapped around the stem.

perforate (of a pollen grain):

with holes less than 1µm in diameter and generally situated in the tectum.

pergamentaceous:

like parchment.

perianth:

the floral envelope, consisting of calyx or corolla or both.

pericarp:

the wall of the ripened ovary;
its layers may be fused into one, or ± divisible into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp.

periderm:

secondary protective tissue derived from the phellogen, and replacing the epidermis.

perigone (adj. perigonal):

see perianth.

perigynium (pl. perigynia):

the hypogynous setae of Cyperaceae;
the flask or utricle of Carex (Cyperaceae);
any hypogynous disc.

perigynous:

applied to the flower when the sepals, petals and stamens arise on an open receptacle surrounding the ovary but are not adnate to it (compare epigynous, hypogynous).

perisperm:

nutritive tissue in an angiosperm seed, formed from the nucellus (compare endosperm).

persistent:

remaining attached to the plant beyond the expected time of falling.

personate (of a flower, e.g. in Scrophulariaceae):

with a two-lipped corolla in the form of a face, with an arched upper lip and a lower lip that protrudes into and nearly closes the throat of the corolla.

petal:

see corolla.

petaloid / petaline:

resembling petals.

petiolate:

having a petiole.

petiole (adj. petiolar):

leaf stalk.

petioled:

having a petiole.

petiolode:

the axis-like structure below the lamina and petiole (if any);
it often bears the inflorescences at its distal end and sometimes shows powers of late elongation;
it sometimes also produces roots (Streptocarpus - Gesneriaceae).

petiolule (adj. petiolulate / petioluled):

the stalk of a leaflet.

phalloid:

resembling a phallus.

phellem:

cork.

phellogen:

cork cambium.

phenotype:

the physical characteristics of an organism;
the outward expression of characteristics conferred on an organism by its genotype.

photonastic:

one-sided growth in length of an organ due to the unrestricted action of light.

phyllary:

an individual bract of the involucre, e.g. in the inflorescence of Asteraceae.

phylloclade (syn. cladode):

a flattened foliaceous stem having the form and function of a leaf but arising in the axil of a minute, bract-like, often caducous, true leaf.

phyllode:

a flattened petiole or leaf rachis with the form and functions of a leaf (compare cladode).

phyllotaxy:

the arrangement of leaves on a stem.

phytomelan(ous) (especially in seeds):

black.

pilose:

hairy with rather long, soft, simple hairs.

pin flower:

in heterostylous plants, the flower type having the longer style (compare thrum flower).

pinna (pl. pinnae):

a primary division of a pinnate leaf.

pinnate; pinnately:

like a feather in appearance;
(of a compound leaf): with the leaflets arranged along each side of a common rachis;
(of the venation of a leaf): with a middle vein and secondary veins arising from it on each side.

pinnate-parallel (of the venation of a leaf):

pinnate with the secondary veins running parallel to each other.

pinnatifid:

with the margin pinnately cleft but not to the midrib.

pinnatilobate / pinnatilobed:

pinnately divided to about halfway to the midrib.

pinnatipartite:

pinnately divided almost to the midrib.

pinnatisect:

pinnately divided down to the midrib.

pinnule:

the secondary or tertiary division of a leaf which is twice or thrice pinnate.

pistil:

see gynoecium.

pistil head:

see style head.

pistillate:

pertaining to a flower with one or more carpels but no functional stamens;
unisexual and female.

pistillode:

a sterile pistil, often rudimentary.

pitted:

marked with small depressions, punctate.

placenta:

the part of the ovary, sometimes but not always thickened or raised, to which the ovules are attached (see also free).

placentation:

the arrangement of placentas, and hence of ovules, within an ovary.
( see also axile placentation, marginal placentation and parietal placentation.

 

placentiferous:

bearing a placenta.

plesiomorphic (of a character):

common to the group under discussion and its ancestors.

plicate:

folded back and forth longitudinally like a fan.

plumose:

like a feather;
with fine hairs branching from a central axis, e.g. the pappus of some Asteraceae.

plumule:

see embryo.

pluri- (prefix):

many-.

pluriseriate:

in several to many rows.

pod:

see legume.

polarised (of endothecial tissue of Asteraceae):

with thickenings restricted to the horizontal cell walls.

pollen:

the microspores of seed plants shed from anthers.

pollen carrier:

see corpuscle.

pollen mass:

pollen grains cohering into a single body;
(= pollinium).

pollen presenter:

a structural modification, usually a swelling, of the style around or below the stigma which enables pollen, shed in the bud, to be retained (e.g. in Proteaceae and Rubiaceae).

pollen sac:

the chamber in an anther in which pollen is formed (see anther).

pollinarium (pl. pollinaria):

the complex structure found in the flowers of many Apocynaceae where the pollen masses of two adjacent thecae are united for dispersal as a unit. The pollinarium consists of a small, ± globose, sticky body, the corpuscle which has two thin, elastic arms, the caudicles, each bearing one pollinium.

pollinium (pl. pollinia):

a cohesive mass of pollen grains which are shed together and transported as a unit during pollination (e.g. in Apocynaceae and Orchidaceae).

polycarpic:

applied to a plant which flowers and fruits often (compare monocarpic).

polyforate (of a pollen grain):

with many pores.

polygamo-dioecious:

with bisexual and male flowers on the same plant, and bisexual and female flowers on others.

polygamo-monoecious:

with bisexual flowers and unisexual flowers of both sexes on the same plant.

polygamous:

having unisexual and bisexual flowers on the same or on different individuals.

polymorphic:

having more than two distinct morphological variants.

polypetalous:

of flowers with petals free from each other (compare gamopetalous).

polyphyletic:

composed of members that originated independently from more than one evolutionary line (compare monophyletic).

polyploid:

having more than two of the basic sets of chromosomes in the nucleus (compare diploid, haploid).

pome:

a fleshy (false) fruit, formed from an inferior ovary in which the receptacle or hypanthium has enlarged to enclose the true fruit.

porate (of a pollen grain):

with rounded apertures (compare colpate, colporate).

pore:

small, ± round aperture, e.g. on pollen grains.

poricidal:

opening by pores.

poriferous:

having many pores.

porrect:

directed outward and forward;
perpendicular to the surface.

posterior:

in position nearest to the axis (compare anterior / anticous).

posticous:

on the posterior side, next to the axis (compare anticous).

pouch:

a bag, sack or receptacle of moderate size.

praemorse:

apparently bitten off at the end.

precocious:

appearing or developing early;
often used of flowers which appear before the leaves.

prehensile:

adapted for grasping, especially by wrapping around a support.

prickle:

a sharp outgrowth from the bark or surface layer containing no conducting tissue.

primocane:

the first season's shoot or cane of a biennial woody stem, as in many brambles (Rubus spp.Rosaceae).

procumbent:

trailing or lying on the ground without rooting at the nodes.

prolate (of a pollen grain):

having a polar axis of greater length than the equatorial diameter.

proliferous:

bearing adventitious buds on the leaves or in the flowers, capable of rooting and forming separate plants.

propagule:

a structure with the capacity to give rise to a new plant.

prophyll:

a leaf formed at the base of a shoot, usually smaller than those formed subsequently.

prostrate (syn. procumbent):

trailing to lying on the ground without rooting at the nodes.

protandrous / proterandrous:

with the anthers ripening before the stigmas (compare protogynous).

proterogynous:

see protogynous.

protogynous:

having the female sex organs maturing before the male ones (compare protandrous).

protrusion:

something that projects or thrusts outwards or forwards.

protuberance (adj. protuberant):

a bulge or swelling.

proximal:

nearer to the point of attachment or origin;
the converse of distal.

pruinose:

having a whitish, waxy, powdery bloom on the surface.

psammophilous:

sand-loving.

psammophyte:

a plant which grows in sand or sandy soil.

pseud- / pseudo- (prefix):

false, not genuine, not the true or typical.

pseudanthium:

an inflorescence resembling a single flower (e.g. a cyathium).

pseudo-aril:

false aril; see arillode.

pseudocolpus (of a pollen grain):

a colpus-like streak.

pseudo-indusium:

false indusium.

pseudobulb:

a solid, above-ground, thickened or bulbiform stem, characteristic of some orchids.

pseudopetiolate:

sub sessile.

puberulent:

minutely pubescent.

puberulous:

slightly pubescent.

pubescent:

covered with soft, short, erect hairs.

pulverulent:

powdery.

pulvinate:

cushion-shaped.

pulvinus:

a swollen base or apex of the petiole or petiolule, often glandular or responsive to touch;
a cushion.

punctate:

marked with dots or translucent glands.

puncticulate:

very finely punctate.

punctiform:

reduced to a mere point.

pungent:

ending in a sharp, rigid point.

pusticulate:

finely pustulate.

pustule (adj.pustulate):

a slight elevation like a pimple or blister.

putamen:

the shell of a nut;
the hardened endocarp of a drupe.

pyrene:

a nutlet or kernel, the stone (endocarp plus seed) of a drupe or similar fruit (compare berry, drupe).

pyriform:

pear-shaped.

pyrophyte:

a plant adapted to survive severe fires.

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quadr- / quadra- / quadri- (prefix):

four-.

quincuncial (applied to calyx or corolla lobes in the bud):

a variant of imbricate aestivation with two lobes outside, two lobes inside, and one lobe which is overlapped on one side only.

R

raceme (adj. racemose):

an indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are borne on pedicels along an unbranched axis or peduncle, the terminal flowers being the youngest and last to open (centripetal development).

racemiform:

having the shape of a raceme.

racemoid:

resembling a raceme

rachilla (pl. rachillae):

(1) the rachis (axis) of the spikelet in Cyperaceae and Poaceae;
( 2) a secondary axis, as in a compound leaf.

rachis (pl.rachises or rachides) (= rhachis):

(1) the axis of an inflorescence in which flower stalks occur at short intervals from each other, as in Poaceae;
( 2) the axis of a pinnately compound leaf, corresponding to the midrib of a simple leaf.

radial (of endothecial tissue of Asteraceae):

with thickenings ± evenly distributed in the walls of the cells, particularly in the radial walls.

radiate:

applied to flowerheads of Asteraceae with ray floret.

radical:

applied to leaves which arise so close to the base of the stem as to appear to arise on the root.

radicant:

rooting, in particular of a stem which produces adventitious roots.

radicle:

see embryo.

radicular:

related to the radicle.

ramification:

the scheme of branching or separation into branches.

ramiflorous (of flowers and fruits):

borne below the current leaves on recently formed woody branches (compare cauliflorous).

raphe (adj. raphal):

the part of a stalk of an anatropous ovule that is fused along the side of the ovule.

raphides:

mineral substances in the form of needleshaped crystals, within the cells of plants.

ray:

one of the radiating branches of an umbel.

ray floret:

the florets of the margin of a flowerhead of the Asteraceae when different from those of the centre or disc (see disc floret)

recaulescence (adj. recaulescent):

a condition where the bract sub tending a flower is not situated on the main axis on which the flower arises but on the pedicel.

receptacle (adj. receptacular; syn. torus):

the extremity of the axis on which the parts of the flower, sepals, petals, stamens and pistil, are inserted.

recurved:

curved or curled downwards or backwards.

reduplicate (of sepals or petals):

with margins valvate and reflexed.

reflexed:

bent downwards or backwards.

regular (= actinomorphic) (of a flower, calyx or corolla):

radially symmetrical, i.e. capable of being dissected into similar halves in more than one vertical plane forming mirror images (compare irregular, zygomorphic).

reniform:

kidney-shaped.

repand:

with the margin uneven or wavy, with shallow undulations;
not as deep as sinuate.

repent:

lying or creeping along the ground.

replicate:

folded abaxially along the middle, as along the midrib of a leaf.

replum:

a longitudinal partition in an ovary, formed between parietal placentas (e.g. in Brassicaceae).

resin (adj. resinous):

plant exudate, often sticky, insoluble in water.

resiniferous:

yielding resin.

resupinate:

upside down because the pedicel or ovary is twisted through 180° (as in flowers of Orchidaceae and Lobeliaceae).

reticulate:

having a network-like pattern;
net-veined, with the smallest veins of a leaf connected together like the meshes of a net.

retinaculum (pl. retinacula):

(1) the persistent, hooklike funicle, as in the fruits of the Acanthaceae;
( 2) the structure to which the pollinium is attached, as in the Asclepiadaceae and Orchidaceae (see corpuscle).

retrofracted:

bent abruptly backwards.

retrorse:

bent abruptly backwards, away from the apex (compare antrorse).

retuse:

notched.

revolute:

rolled back from the margin (compare involute).

rhachilla:

see rachilla.

rhachis:

see rachis.

rhipidium (pl. rhipidia; adj. rhipidial):

a ± fan-shaped cyme with the lateral branches developed alternately on one side and then on the other.

rhizome (adj. rhizomatous):

a rootstock or root-like stem prostrate on or under the ground, sending rootlets downwards, and branches, leaves or flowering shoots upwards, always distinguished from a true root by the presence of buds, leaves or scales.

rhombic / rhomboid:

± diamond-shaped;
having straight margins and being widest in the middle.

riparian:

of, inhabiting or situated on the bank of a river or stream.

rootstock:

a short swollen structure at the junction of the root and the shoot system of a plant.

rosette:

a crowded, circular cluster of leaves or other organs.

rostellum (in Orchidaceae):

a projection of the upper edge of the stigma in front of the anthers;
a small beak.

rostrate:

beaked (see beak).

rostrum:

any beak-like extension.

rosulate:

with the leaves in a circle or rosette.

rotate:

wheel-shaped;
of a corolla with a short tube and spreading limb.

rotund:

with a shape between orbicular and broadly elliptic.

rounded:

margins and apex forming a smooth arc.

ruderal:

a plant that grows on waste ground.

rudimentary:

poorly developed and not functional (compare obsolete, vestigial).

rufescent:

becoming reddish.

rufous:

rusty or brownish red.

rugose:

wrinkled;
covered with coarse reticulate lines.

rugula (pl. rugulae):

a fine wrinkle or fold, e.g. in the upper lip of some Acanthaceae.

rugulose:

finely wrinkled.

ruminate:

mottled in appearance, e.g. of bark, or of the food reserves in a seed.

runcinate:

pinnatifid with the lobes pointing towards the base.

runner:

a slender, prostrate or trailing stem which produces roots and sometimes erect shoots at its nodes (compare stolon).

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saccate:

pouched.

sagittate:

applied to the base of a leaf or an anther with two acute, straight lobes directed downwards like in an arrow-head.

saliciform:

like the genus Salix (Salicaceae);
willowlike.

salverform / salver-shaped:

shaped like a trumpet, e.g. of a sympetalous corolla, with a slender tube and an abruptly spreading limb.

samara:

an indehiscent, 1-seeded fruit or mericarp with wings (e.g. Securidaca (Polygalaceae) and Malpighiaceae)

samaroid:

applied to a fruit resembling a samara.

saponins:

a group of soap-like, toxic substances.

saprophyte:

an organism deriving its nourishment from dead organic matter and usually lacking chlorophyll (compare epiphyte, parasite).

saprophytic:

obtaining food from nonliving organic matter.

sarcotesta:

the fleshy outer coat of a seed.

saxicolous:

living or growing among or on rocks.

scaberulous / scabrellous:

minutely scabrous, slightly rough to the touch.

scabrid / scabrous:

rough to the touch, usually from the presence of very short harsh hairs.

scabridous / scabridulous:

somewhat rough to the touch.

scalariform:

having a ladder-like pattern.

scale:

(1) reduced or rudimentary leaf, usually sessile and scarious and seldom green;
( 2) a kind of indumentum in the form of small, flat discs attached by the centre;
( 3) any thin, usually small and dry structure.

scalloped:

see crenate.

scandent:

climbing.

scape:

a naked flower stalk arising from the ground with radical or rosulate leaves.

scapigerous:

possessing a scape.

scapose:

bearing one or more flowers on a scape;
in the form of a scape.

scarious:

thin and dry, not green.

schizocarp (adj. schizocarpic / schizocarpous):

a dry, dehiscent fruit which splits into two or more separate carpels (mericarps) at maturity, found e.g. in Apiaceae and Malvaceae.

schizogenous:

originating by separation of cell walls along the middle lamella.

sclerenchyma:

????

scimitar-shaped:

see acinaciform.

sclereid:

sclerenchyma cell having thick, lignified secondary walls.

scleroid:

having a hard texture.

sclerophyllous:

with leaves stiffened by sclerenchyma.

sclerotic:

having sclereids.

scorpioid (of a cymose inflorescence):

with the main axis coiled in bud, the flowers being usually 2- ranked, i.e. with single flowers alternately right and left (compare helicoid).

scrobiculate:

pitted;
marked by minute or shallow depressions.

scutate:

like a small shield.

scutelliform:

shaped like a dish.

sectile (of pollinia):

compartmented.

secund:

with parts or organs (branches, leaves or flowers) all directed to one side.

segment:

a part or division of an organ.

sepal:

see calyx.

sepaloid / sepaline:

resembling sepals.

septal (of a nectary):

occurring in the partitions of the ovary where the carpel walls are incompletely fused, especially in monocotyledons.

septate:

divided by one or more partitions.

septicidal:

referring to the dehiscence of a ripe capsule which splits open through the septa or carpel margins (compare loculicidal).

septifragal:

referring to the dehiscence of a ripe capsule where the valves or backs of the carpels break away leaving the septa intact.

septum (pl. septa; adj. septal):

dividing cross wall or partition;
an internal partition of an ovary or fruit.

seriate:

in rows or whorls.

sericeous:

silky, with closely appressed, soft, straight hairs.

serrate:

toothed like a saw, with regular, pointed teeth.

serrature:

the toothing of a serrate leaf.

serrulate:

serrate with minute teeth.

sessile:

without a stalk;
(of a stigma): the style is absent and the stigma is therefore sessile on the ovary).

seta (pl. setae):

a bristle or stiff hair.

setaceous:

having bristle-like hairs;
bristly.

setiferous:

bearing setae.

setiform:

looking like a seta.

setose:

beset with bristles.

setulose:

a diminutive of setose.

sexine:

the outer and / or sculptured layer of the exine of a pollen grain.

sheath:

the (lower) portion of the leaf clasping the stem.

sheet (s) (eg. in Mesembryanthemaceae):

????

sigmoid / sigmoidal:

double-curved in opposite directions, like the letter S.

siliceous:

containing silica.

silicula (pl. siliculae):

a short siliqua, not much longer than broad.

siliqua / silique (pl. siliquae / siliques):

a dry, dehiscent fruit formed from a superior ovary of two carpels, with two parietal placentas, divided into two compartments by a thin partition (replum), opening by two valves which fall away from a frame on which the seeds are borne (e.g. in Brassicaceae).

simple:

of one piece or series, the opposite of compound, e.g. simple leaf: not divided into leaflets
(of a hair or inflorescence): not branched.

sinistrorse:

turned towards the left (compare dextrorse).

sinuate / sinuous:

with the margin uneven, with rather deep undulations (compare undulate).

sinus (pl. sinuses):

(1) a curve;
( 2) a recess between the teeth or lobes on a margin;
( 3) the recess formed by the basal lobes of a leaf or other organ.

siphonostele (adj. siphonostelic) (in a dicotyledonous stem):

the cylinder of conducting tissue surrounding the central parenchyma.

sobole:

a shoot, especially from the ground.

soboliferous:

bearing soboles.

solitary:

borne singly or alone.

sorus (pl. sori; adj. soral):

a cluster of spores and / or sporangia.

spadix (pl. spadices):

a flower spike with a fleshy or thickened axis, e.g. in Araceae and some palms (Arecaceae).

spathe (adj. spathaceous / spatheate):

a large bract enclosing a spadix, or one or more bracts enclosing a flower or inflorescence.

spathella (pl. spathellae):

(1) a capsule-like structure enclosing the flower buds in some Podostemaceae, rupturing irregularly as the pedicel elongates at anthesis;
( 2) formerly used term for the glunies of Poaceae;
( 3) small bracts as found in the inflorescences of Restionaceae.

spatheole:

a secondary spathe within a compound inflorescence in the Andropogoneae-Poaceae.

spathulate:

spoon-shaped, broadly rounded above and long and narrow below.

spatulate:

see spathulate.

species:

a taxon comprising one or more populations of individuals capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

spheroid / spheroidal:

approximately spherical.

spicate:

arranged in a spike.

spiciform raceme:

spike-like raceme.

spiculate:

having a surface covered with fine points or crystals.

spicule:

a small spike.

spike:

an inflorescence with the flowers sessile along a simple undivided axis or rachis.

spikelet:

a small spike composed of one or more flowers enclosed by glumes, in Cyperaceae and Poaceae.

spine:

a sharp-pointed, hardened structure modified from another organ (leaf, branch, stipule, etc.), or from part of an organ.

spine shield:

in some Euphorbieae-Euphorbiaceae, the hardened bases along the angles of the stems and branches, from which the spines of certain species are produced.

spinescent:

spine-tipped, having spines.

spinose:

spiny or having spines.

spiral (of leaves or floral organs):

borne at different levels on the axis, in an ascending spiral.

spiraperturate (of a pollen grain):

with one or more spiral apertures.

-sporangiate (of an anther):

containing a given number of microsporangia / pollen sacs (e.g. 4-sporangiate: containing four pollen sacs, as commonly found in 2-thecate anthers) (see anther).

sporangium (pl. sporangia):

a hollow, unicellular or multicellular, sac-like, spore-producing structure.

sporophore:

any structure bearing spores.

sporophyll:

a modified leaf or leaf-like structure which bears sporangia.

spur:

a slender, usually hollow extension of some part of the flower.

spurious:

not genuine or real, false.

spur shoot:

a (very) short lateral branch (= brachyblast).

squama (pl. squamae):

a scale, usually derived from a leaf.

squamella:

diminutive of squama, a scale of the second order or reduced in size, as in the disc of Asteraceae.

squamiform:

scale-like.

squarrose:

spreading or recurved at some point above the base, e.g. as in the phyllaries of some Asteraceae which are sharply curved downward or outward.

stamen (adj. staminal):

in angiosperms, the pollen producing structure in a flower usually consisting of an anther and a filament.

staminal column:

see androphore.

staminal corona:

fleshy outgrowth of tissue, attached dorsally to the staminal column at the base of the filament or on the backs of the anthers (compare gynostegial corona, interstaminal corona).

staminate:

having stamens (usually implying that carpels are absent).

staminode (adj. staminodial):

an abortive or vestigial stamen without a perfect anther.

staminophore:

a structure bearing stamens.

standard:

the large posterior petal (outside in the bud) of a papilionaceous corolla (= vexillum).

stele:

the portion of the plant body which comprises the vascular system (xylem and phloem) and its associated ground tissue (e.g. pericycle, interfascicular regions and pith).

stelidium (pl. stelidia):

lateral horn- or tooth-like appendages of the gynostemium of some Orchidaceae (e.g. Bulbophyllum spp.).

stellate:

resembling a star in shape;
(of hairs): with several arms radiating horizontally. stereome (of involucral bracts of some Asteraceae): the thickened region in the lower part.

stigma (adj. stigmatic / stigmatose):

the point or surface of the pistil which receives the pollen, either sessile (when there is no style) or on the top or surface of the style or its branches.

stipe:

the stalk supporting a carpel or gynoecium.

stipel / stipella (pl. stipellae):

small secondary stipule at the base of a leaflet.

stipitate:

supported on a special stalk, or stipe, e.g. an ovary (e.g. in Capparaceae).

stipi(ti)form:

looking like a stipe.

stipule (adj. stipular):

leaf-like or scale-like appendage of a leaf, usually at the base of the petiole.

stipuloid:

stipule-like.

stolon:

a runner which roots.

stoloniferous:

having stolons;
trailing over the soil surface and rooting at the nodes.

stoma (pl. stomata):

a minute pore in the epidermis of leaves, providing for gaseous exchange between the tissues and the atmosphere.

stomatose:

possessing stomata.

stone cell:

a ± isodiametric sclereid.

stramineous:

straw-like or straw-coloured.

stria (pl. striae):

see striation.

striation (adj. striate):

one of a number of parallel longitudinal lines, grooves or ridges.

strigillose:

finely strigose.

strigose:

with short stiff hairs appressed to the surface.

strigulose:

minutely strigose.

strobiliform:

resembling a strobilus.

strobilus (pl. strobili):

a cone-like structure containing the reproductive organs of one or both sexes, as in gymnosperms.

strophiole:

an appendage to the hilum of some seeds (see also caruncle).

strumose:

with a swelling.

strut:

a rod or bar connecting parts of a structure.

style:

narrow upper part of an ovary supporting the stigma.

style head / pistil head:

the dilated apical part of the style or gynostegium, particularly in Apocynaceae.

stylidium / stylodium:

a style-like stigma.

stylopodium:

a disc-like enlargement of the base of the style (e.g. in some Brassicaceae).

sub- (prefix):

implying 'almost', e.g.:
subacute: almost acute;
subentire: having a very slightly uneven margin.

suberous:

corky.

subtend:

to have a bud or similar part growing in its axil.

subulate:

awl-shaped: narrow and tapering gradually to a fine point.

succulent:

a plant which accumulates water in fleshy, water-storing stems, leaves or roots;
juicy, fleshy in reference to texture or appearance.

suffrutescent:

like a suffrutex.

suffrutex:

a perennial plant which is slightly woody only at the base.

suffruticose:

shrubby.

sulcate:

grooved, furrowed.

sulculus (pl. sulculi; adj. sulculate) (of a pollen grain):

an elongated latitudinal ectoaperture not situated at a pole (compare sulcus).

sulcus (pl. sulci) (of a pollen grain):

an elongated latitudinal ectoaperture situated at the distal or proximal pole of a pollen grain (compare colpus, which is usually a longitudinal aperture;
compare sulculus, which is not situated at a pole).

superior:

applied to an ovary when the sepals, petals and stamens are inserted below it (hypogynous);
also when the receptacle bearing the calyx, corolla and stamens is prolonged so as to be separate from the ovary, but forms a cup surrounding it (perigynous) (compare inferior).

supra (prefix):

above, on the upper side.

suture:

the line of junction or seam of union, commonly used of the line of opening of a carpel;
the dorsal (outer or anterior) suture of a carpel represents the midrib of the carpellary leaf;
the ventral (inner) suture represents the united margins on which the ovules and placentas are borne.

sward:

lawn;
continuous grass cover produced by stoloniferous species.

syconium:

a multiple fruit, or syncarp, with a hollow centre, e.g. the figs of Ficus (Moraceae).

sympetalous:

having petals which are partly or completely fused (syn. choripetalous, gamopetalous) (compare polypetalous).

sympatric (of two or more taxa):

having coincident or overlapping ranges of distribution (compare allopatric).

sympodial (of growth):

without a single persisting growing point;
changing direction by frequent replacement of the growing apex by a lateral growing point below it (compare monopodial).

synandrium:

an androecium of a male flower with united anthers.

synanthous (of leaves):

appearing together with the flowers (compare hysteranthous).

syncarp / syncarpium:

a structure consisting of several united, usually fleshy fruits;
(compare aggregate fruit).

syncarpous:

composed of two or more united carpels.

synflorescence:

a compound inflorescence.

synthecate (of anthers):

with the two thecae having merged into one, e.g. in some Scrophulariaceae.

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tannin:

a complex yellowish or brownish aromatic compound found in many plants.

tanniniferous:

producing tannins.

taproot:

the main, descending root of a plant that has a single dominant root axis.

taxon (pl. taxa):

a group or category, at any level, in a system for classifying organisms.

tectum (of a pollen grain):

the outermost closed layer of the sexine, formed by union of the heads of the bacula.

tendril (adj. tendrillar / tendrillous):

a long, slender, coiling, modified leaf, or rarely stem, by which a climbing plant attaches to its support.

tendrilliform / tendrilloid:

resembling a tendril.

tenui- (prefix):

slender, thin.

tenuous:

thin or slender in form.

tepal:

any of the members of a perianth that is not clearly differentiated into calyx and corolla.

terete:

cylindrical, circular in transverse section.

terminal:

at the apex or distal end.

ternate:

arranged in a whorl or cluster of three.

ternately compound (of a leaf):

with leaflets in threes.

terrestrial:

on or in the ground.

tessellate:

having a checkered pattern, e.g. with depressions.

testa:

the outer coat of a seed.

tetra- (prefix):

four-.

tetrad:

a group of four spores or pollen grains derived from a spore mother cell or pollen grain mother cell as a result of meiosis, and remaining fused at maturity, e.g. in Ericaceae (compare monad).

tetradynamous:

having six stamens, two of which are shorter than the others, as in most Brassicaceae.

tetragonous:

4-angled.

tetramerous:

having four members in a whorl.

tetrandrous:

having four stamens.

tetrasporangiate (of an anther):

having four microsporangia or pollen sacs.

thalloid:

resembling or shaped like a thallus.

thallus:

a single plant body not differentiated into stem and leaves, e.g. Lemna spp. (Lemnaceae).

theca (pl. thecae; adj. thecous / thecate):

one half of an anther, usually containing two pollen sacs / microsporangia.

thorn:

a modified plant organ, especially a stem, that is stiffened and ends in a pungent point.

throat (of a tubular corolla):

the top of the tube, where the lobes arise from the tube.

thrum flower:

in heterostylous plants, the flower type having the shorter style (compare pin flower).

thyrse:

a panicle with the secondary and ultimate axes cymose, i.e. the main axis is indeterminate and the lateral branches are determinate in their growth.

thyrsoid:

like a thyrse.

tiller:

a shoot growing from the base of a grass (Poaceae) stem;
to produce tillers.

tomentellous / tomentulose:

minutely tomentose.

tomentellum:

a fine, short tomentum.

tomentose:

densely covered with short, soft, felted hairs.

tomentum:

a covering of woolly, densely matted hairs;
wool.

toothed:

see dentate.

tortuous:

irregularly twisted or twining.

torulose:

cylindrical with contractions or swellings at intervals.

torus:

see receptacle.

trabeculate:

cross-barred.

trace:

a strand of vascular tissue connecting the stem with a leaf or reproductive organ.

translator:

see corpuscle.

translator arm:

see caudicle.

trapeziform:

a figure of four straight, unequal sides.

tri- (prefix):

three;
thrice.

triad:

a group of three.

trichome:

an epidermal outgrowth, such as a hair or scale.

trichotomous:

forking regularly into three.

trifid:

deeply divided into three parts.

trifoliate:

having three leaves.

trifoliolate:

having three leaflets.

trigonous:

triangular in cross section and with obtuse angles (compare triquetrous).

trilete (e.g. of spores):

having three scar lines forming a 'Y', or basically tetrahedral.

trimerous:

in threes, e.g. of a flower with three sepals, three petals, etc.

tripartite:

divided into three parts.

tripinnate (of leaves):

thrice pinnately divided.

triporate:

with three pores.

triquetrous:

triangular in cross section and with acute angles, therefore with three distinct longitudinal ridges (compare trigonous).

tristichous (of leaves on a stem):

arranged in three vertical rows.

tristylous (said of a heterostylous species):

having three style lengths (short, mid, long);
the flowers of any one plant having styles of the same length.

trullate / trulliform:

trowel-shaped;
having its widest axis below the middle and with straight margins.

truncate:

cut off ± squarely at the end.

tuber:

(1) a thickened branch of an underground stem, which produces buds;
( 2) a swollen root or branch of a root acting as a storage organ.

tubercle:

a small, wart-like outgrowth.

tuberculate:

covered with wart-like protuberances or knobs.

tuberous:

swollen;
(of roots): tuber-like.

tuft (adj. tufted):

clump, cluster.

tuft domatium:

a domatium supplied with or consisting of hairs.

tumid:

swollen, enlarged.

tumulus (pl. tumuli):

a small mound.

tunic (adj. tunicate) (of a bulb or corm):

a loose membranous or fibrous outer skin which does not develop from the epidermis.

turbinate / turbiniform:

shaped like a top;
obconical.

turgid:

swollen due to a high water content (compare flaccid).

turion:

(1) a young shoot or sucker which is produced from an underground stem;
( 2) a perennating winter bud which is separated from the parent and gives rise to a new plant in spring.

tussocky:

tufted as in some grasses or grass-like plants.

U

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umbel (adj. umbellate):

a racemose inflorescence in which all the divergent pedicels or rays arise in a cluster at the top of the peduncle and are of about equal length;
compound umbel: each ray bears an umbel, each of the latter called a partial umbel;
simple umbel: each ray terminates in a flower.

umbellule:

a secondary umbel in a compound umbellate inflorescence.

umbo (adj. umbonate):

a blunt or rounded projection arising from a surface, as on a pine-cone scale.

uncinate:

terminating in a hooked point.

undulate:

wavy on the margin (compare sinuate).

unguiculate (of petals):

having a narrow claw-like base.

uni- (prefix):

one-.

unifacial:

one-faced;
(of leaves): folded sharply in half along the midline so that the adaxial surface is hidden;
or filiform to ± cylindrical with a ± continuous palisade layer (see also centric).

unifarious (of the indumentum of a stem):

restricted to one side or vertical line.

unifoliate:

having only one leaf.

unifoliolate:

of a compound leaf which is reduced to a single, usually terminal, leaflet;
the petiolule is distinct from a petiole.

unilateral (of stamens):

with anthers grouped on one side of the style.

unilocular (of an ovary or fruit):

having only one internal cavity.

unisexual:

bearing only male or only female reproductive organs.

united:

fused together.

unitegmic (of an ovule):

with one integument.

unithecate / unithecous (of an anther):

with one theca.

urceolate:

urn-shaped, with a short swollen tube contracted near the top and then slightly expanded in a narrow rim.

urticate:

to cause a burning or itching sensation.

utricle:

bladder-shaped structure, applied:
( 1) to the traps of Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae);
( 2) to the fruits of e.g. some Cyperaceae, such as Carex, and of Lemnaceae.

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vagina:

sheath.

vallecular (of grooves between ridges):

e.g. in the fruits of Apiaceae and Asteraceae.

valvate:

having the edges of petals or sepals touching without overlapping.

valve (adj. valvar):

one of the parts produced by the splitting of a capsule when ripe.

vascular:

specialised for the conduction of fluids;

vascular plant:

plant containing specialised conducting tissues.

vegetative (of plant organs or parts):

having non-reproductive functions, e.g. leaves, roots, stems, etc.

veins:

strands of vascular tissue (compare nerves).

velamen:

water-retaining outer layer of the aerial roots of some epiphytes, especially Orchidaceae.

velum:

a veil;
a membranous covering.

velutinous:

velvety.

velvety:

with a coating of fine soft hairs.

venation:

the arrangement of veins of a leaf or other organ.

venose:

having veins.

ventral (of a lateral organ):

the upper or inner face or the surface facing the axis;
(of a thallus): the surface facing the substrate (compare dorsal).

ventricidal:

of the dehiscence of a fruit which splits down the ventral (axile) side of the locules.

ventricose:

swollen or bulging on one side;
unequally inflated.

vermiform:

shaped like a worm.

vernation:

the arrangement of unexpanded leaves in a bud (compare aestivation).

verruciform:

resembling a wart.

verrucose:

warty.

verruculose:

finely warty.

versatile (of an anther):

swinging freely about the point of attachment to the filament which is ± in the middle of the back (compare basifixed, dorsifixed, medifixed).

verticil:

a whorl or circular arrangement of similar parts around an axis, at the same level.

verticillaster:

a false whorl of opposed dense cymes, especially in Larniaceae.

verticillate:

arranged in one or more whorls.

vescicle:

a small sac or cavity;
a spherical body.

vescicular:

pertaining to, having, or composed of, vescicles.

vestigial:

of an organ now degenerate and of little or no utility (compare obsolete, rudimentary).

vestiture:

any covering on a surface, e.g. plant trichomes.

vexillum (adj. vexillary):

the uppermost (or posterior) petal of a papilionaceous flower (= standard).

vibratile:

capable of vibration.

villous:

beset with long, weak hairs (compare hirsute).

virgate:

with many long, slender, ± straight, ascending, almost parallel stems.

viscid:

sticky, glutinous.

viscidium (in Orchidaceae):

a viscid part of the rostellum, which is clearly defined and removed with the pollinia as a unit, and serves to attach the pollinia to an insect or other pollination agent.

viscidulous:

slightly sticky.

viscous (of a liquid):

thick and sticky.

vitta (pl. vittae):

aromatic oil tubes in the fruit of some Apiaceae.

viviparous:

with seeds or buds germinating or sprouting while attached to the parent plant.

voluble:

twining or twisting.

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whorl (adj. whorled):

(1) a group of three or more parts at a node, e.g. leaves or branches;
( 2) a circle of floral organs, e.g. stamens, petals, carpels".

wing (adj. winged):

(1) any flat membranous expansion;
( 2) a thin flange of tissue extended beyond the normal outline of a stem or petiole;
( 3) one of the two lateral petals of a papilionaceous flower;
( 4) one of the petaloid sepals of the flower in Polygalaceae (compare atate).

X

x / basic chromosome number:

the number of chromosomes in the original genome (haploid set) from which a polyploid or a group of polyploid forms or species is known or postulated to have arisen.

xerochastic:

applied to plants of which the fruits burst by desiccation and their seeds or spores are scattered.

xeromorphic (of plants or plant parts):

having characteristics that serve as protection against excessive loss of moisture. (compare mesomorphic)

xerophyte (adj. xerophytic):

a plant that is adapted to dry or arid habitats.

Z

zonasulculate (of a pollen grain):

with a ring-like sulcus around the equator.

zonatriporate (of a pollen grain):

with three pores equatorially.

zygomorphic:

applied to flowers which are bilaterally symmetrical, i.e. capable of being bisected into identical halves in one plane only, forming mirror images;
(= irregular) (compare actinomorphic, regular).