Glossary
Showing 50 of 248 terms
- Abaxial
- The surface or portion of a lateral structure away from the bearing axis; the lower surface
- Achene
- Small, dry, one-seeded fruit. See drawing of fruits.
- Acuminate
- Gradually tapering to a sharp point. See leaf apex drawings.
- Acute
- Abruptly terminating in a sharp point. Less tapering than acuminate, i.e. at a sharper angle. See leaf apex drawings.
- Adaxial
- The surface or portion of a lateral structure toward the bearing axis; the upper surface
- Aerole, Areola
- 1. small space on a surface, usually in reference to a space bounded by veinlets on a leaf surface; 2. small, spine-bearing area on a cactus.
- Alternate
- Leaves placed singly one above the other, usually on alternate sides of the stem. See drawing of leaf arrangements.
- Annual
- A plant that lives only one year or season. The plant must grow from seed each year.
- Anther
- The part of the stamen which contains pollen. See drawing of flower parts.
- Anthesis
- Flowering, or the point in time when pollination takes place.
- Antrorse
- Directed upward or toward the apex.
- Apiculate
- Ending in a small, flexible, short-pointed tip. See leaf apex drawings.
- Arachnoid
- Resembling a spiderweb or cobweb.
- Aril
- An appendage growing on a seed in the area of the hilum.
- Arillate
- Having an aril.
- Aristate
- Possessing a long, narrow apex or apex with a short awn or bristle .
- Ascending
- Sloping or angled upward. See drawing of stem forms.
- Attenuate
- Gradually narrowing to a long, slender point, more extreme than acuminate.
- Auricle
- Small ear-like projections. Found at the junction of the blade and the sheath in grasses. See drawing of parts of a grass plant.
- Awn
- A slender, stiff, bristle-like extension of a plant part, such as the beard on wheat. See drawing of parts of a grass plant.
- Axil
- The angle formed between two plant parts. Usually refers to the upper angle between a leaf and stem.
- Barbellate
- Having barbels (short, straight bristles).
- Bearded
- Having long or stiff hairs arranged in a row or tuft.
- Berry
- A fruit that is fleshy throughout.
- Biennial
- A plant which completes its life cycle in two years. Usually has leaves and stores food in underground parts the first year and then blooms, produces seeds and dies the second year.
- Bifid
- Two-cleft.
- Blade
- The flat, expanded part of a leaf that is above the sheath and away from the stem. See drawing of parts of a grass plant.
- Bract
- A reduced or modified leaf, often below a flower or flower cluster.
- Bulb
- An underground leaf bud enwrapped in fleshy scales or coats.
- Bunch grass
- A grass that forms a more or less circular, compact bunch.
- Caducous
- Falling off early.
- Callus
- Hard, downward extension of a mature lemma.
- Calyx
- The outer part of the floral envelope (perianth). Composed of the sepals and usually green in color. A collective term for the sepals.
- Canescent
- A fine, gray or white pubescence.
- Cathartic
- A substance that purges or cleanses, usually in reference to the bowels
- Catkin
- Long, spike-like inflorescence of small unisexual flowers without petals, each flower subtended by a bract.
- Cauline
- Borne on the stem, rather than basally.
- Chasmogamous
- Flower that is open at time of pollination.
- Ciliate
- Fringed with hairs on the margin.
- Clasping
- Surrounding or partially wrapping around a stem. See drawing of leaf attachments.
- Cleistogamous
- Small flowers that remain closed and are self-pollinated.
- Collar
- The portion of a grass leaf where the sheath and blade join.
- Connate
- Fused to a like part, such as petals fused to petals.
- Connivent
- Coming together but not actually fused.
- Cordate
- Heart-shaped , with the point upward. See drawing of leaf shapes.
- Corm
- Short, solid, bulb-like underground stem that produces leaves and flowering stalks.
- Corolla
- The inner part of the floral envelope (perianth), immediately surrounding the stamens. Composed of petals and often brightly colored. A collective term for the petals.
- Corymb
- A flat-topped or convex flower cluster with the outer flowers blooming first. See drawing of inflorescence types.
- Crenate
- Rounded, shallow teeth or scalloped.
- Culm
- The stem or stalk of a grass or sedge. Usually has a seed head at the top.