Skip to main content

Glossary

Clear filters Letter: C

Showing 22 of 22 terms starting with "C"

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.

Cyathia
In Euphorbia, the cuplike involucre containing the staminate and pistillate flowers.

Cyme
A flat-topped or convex flower cluster with the central flowers blooming first. See drawing of inflorescence types.