Glossary

A

acetabuliform:

saucer-shaped

acrodromous:

with veins curving towards the apex

actinodromous venation:

a leaf vein pattern with 3 or more primary veins diverging radially from a single point

actinomorphic:

radially symmetrical on a single plane

adventitious roots:

roots arising from stem tissue

aerial roots:

roots growing in the air

alternate (leaves):

one leaf per node

alternate (stamens):

stamens alternate with the petals

amorphic:

flower shape without definite symmetry; usually with an indefinite number of stamens and carpels and subtended by (above) variously colored petals.

anemochory:

dispersal by wind

anemophilous:

wind-pollinated

annual:

a plant that completes its life cycle within a single year

antepetalous:

stamens opposite the petals

antesepalous:

stamens opposite the sepals

apical:

at the tip

appressed to stem:

pressed close and flat against the surface

autochory:

dispersal via expulsion mechanisms

autogamous:

self-pollinating; pollination occurs within a closed flower

autotrophic:

a plant that produces its own nourishment

awned:

with an apical projection

axillary buds:

buds occuring at nodes along the twig

B

basal acrodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with 2 or more primary or strongly developed secondary veins arising from the base and running in convergent arches toward the leaf apex

basal palinactinodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with the primary veins diverging in a series of dichotomous branchings starting at the base of the leaf

biennial:

a plant that completes its life cycle in 2 years

bracteoles:

the structures that subtend (occur below) a single flower in an inflorescence

bracts:

structures found at the base of a pedicel or peduncle

brochidodromous venation:

a veination pattern with the secondary veins united forming a series of distinct arches

bud scales:

specialized leaves that protect the bud

bulb:

underground stem surrounded by fleshy, overlapping leaf bases

C

campanulate:

bell-shaped

campylodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with several primary veins or their branches arising at, or nearly at, a single point and forming strongly recurved arches before converging toward the apex (tip)

cantharophilous:

beetle-pollinated

caudice:

woody, overwintering stem base found in some herbaceous perennials

cauliferous:

on the stem (i.e. cauliferous flowers)

chamaephyte:

woody or herbaceous evergreen perennial from 25-50 cm tall or whose shoots die back periodically

chambered pith:

compartmentalized pith

chartaceous:

thin and papery

chiropterogamous:

bat-pollinated

cladodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with secondary veins freely ramified (branching) toward the margin

clustered buds:

without readily discernible internodes between buds

connate:

united or jointed

continuous pith:

pith without walls or compartments

coriaceous:

thick and leathery

corms:

underground stem covered with thin, dry leaves

crateriform:

bowl-shaped

cuneate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, widest at the apex, and with straight margins

D

deciduous:

usually losing its leaves with the approach of winter

decumbent:

flat on the ground, but with upturned tips

decussate:

positioned opposite on the stem but with nodes in two planes alternating at right angles to one another along the stem

deltate:

a shape with a length to width ratio of 1:1, widest at base, and with straight margins

depressed obovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, widest above the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

depressed ovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2; symmetrically curved margins, and widest below middle

diadelphous:

stamens with filaments in 2, connate groups

didynamous:

4 stamens; 2 long and 2 short

diplostemonous:

stamens in 2 whorls, the outer whorl of stamens alternate with the petals; the inner whorl of stamens opposite the petals

distichous:

leaves alternate, but with nodes occuring in one plane on the stem

E

elliptic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest at middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

endozoochory:

dispersal through animal ingestion and excretion

epipetalous:

stamens arising from the petals

epiphyte:

plants that germinate and root on other plants

epizoochory:

dispersal by attachment to fur or feathers

equitant:

leaves overlapping, but in 2 ranks

erect:

more or less perpendicular to the ground

eucamptodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with secondary veins upturned and gradually diminishing apically inside the margin, connected to the superadjacent secondary veins by a series of cross veins without forming prominent marginal loops

evergreen:

retains its leaves throughout the winter

exfoliating:

peeling irregularly

exserted:

stamens projecting beyond the perianth

extrorse:

stamens facing outward

F

fascicle:

a cluster of flowers or leaves

fibrous roots:

threadlike and frequently numerous roots

flabellate palinactinodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with several to many equally fine basal veins diverging radially at low angles and and branching apically

furrowed:

with longitudinal grooves

G

geminate stellate hairs:

hairs with more than 5 rays in clusters superimposed on one another

geophyte:

perennial or biennial herbaceous plants with periodic shoot reduction to a remnant shoot system to storage organs

glabrescent:

becoming glabrous with age

glabrous:

having no hairs

H

haplomorphic:

flower type with numerous parts spirally arranged semispherically; petals colored

haplostemonous:

stamens in 1 whorl

hemi-epiphyte:

plants that germinate on other plants and then establish soil contact; or plants that germinate on the ground and later terminate soil contact

hemicryptophyte:

perennial or biennial herbaceous plants with periodic shoot reduction to a remnant shoot system that lies more or less flat on the ground

heterotrophic:

plants that depend on other organisms for nourishment

hydrochory:

dispersal by water

hydrophilous:

water-pollinated

hyphodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with only the primary vein present; all others veins are rudimentary or concealed in coriaceous or fleshy tissue

I

imbricate:

overlapping

imparipinnate:

compound leaves with a single terminal leaflet

imperfect acrodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with acrodromous veins running less than two-thirds the distance to the apex

imperfect marginal palinactinodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with veins arising on the lateral actinodromous primary veins covering less than two-thirds of the blade area and reaching the margins

imperfect reticulate palinactinodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with veins arising on the lateral actinodromous primary veins covering less than two-thirds of the blade area and not reaching the margins

included:

stamens not projecting beyond the perianth

infundibuliform:

funnel-shaped

introrse:

stamens facing inward

J

No entries.

K

No entries.

L

lanceolate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, widest toward the base, and with symmetrically curved margins

lenticel:

a small pore with loosely arranged cells involved in gas exchange

lenticellate:

with lenticels

linear obtriangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 12:1, widest at the apex, and with straight margins

linear triangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 12:1, widest at base, and with straight margins

linear:

a shape with length to width ratios of 12:1 and parallel margins

M

margin:

edge

melittophilous:

bee-pollinated

membranaceous:

thin and flexible

mixed craspedodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with some of the secondary veins ending at the margin and a more or less equal number of (usually intervening) secondaries

monadelphous:

stamens with filaments connate most of their lengths, forming a tube around the style

monoclinous:

with both male and female structures in the same flower

myophilous:

fly-pollinated

myrmecochory:

dispersal by ants

myrmecophilous:

ant-pollinated

N

narrow oblong:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, and with parallel margins

narrowly elliptic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1, widest at the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

narrowly obtrullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, widest toward the apex, and with straight margins

narrowly rhombic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, widest at the middle, and with straight margins

narrowly transversely oblong:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:3-1:6, and with parallel margins

narrowly transversely rhombic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:3-1:6, widest at middle, and with straight margins

narrowly transversely elliptic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:3-1:6, widest at the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

narrowly triangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, widest at the base, and with straight margins

narrowly trullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, widest toward the base, and with straight margins

O

obdeltate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1, widest at the apex, and with straight margins

obdiplostemonous:

stamens in 2 whorls; the outer whorl of stamens opposite the petals, the inner whorl of stamens alternate with the petals

oblanceolate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 6:1-3:1, widest toward the apex, and with symmetrically curved margins

oblate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest at the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

oblong:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, and with parallel margins

obovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest above the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

obtriangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest at the apex, and with straight margins

obtrullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest toward the apex, and with straight margins

opposite (leaves):

with 2 leaves at the same node

opposite (stamens):

stamens opposite the petals

ornithogamous:

bird-pollinated

oval:

egg-shaped

ovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest below the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

P

papillose:

small epidermal outgrowths

parallelodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with 2 or more primary veins running from the leaf base and parallel to the margin and converging at the apex

paripinnate:

compound leaves with all leaflets are more or less paired; therefore leaves lack a single terminal leaflet

peduncle:

"stalk" supporting either a single flower or an inflorescence

peltate scales:

shield-shaped structures attached to the surface by a stalk

perennial:

plants that live several to many years

perfect acrodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with acrodromous veins well developed, extending at least two-thirds the distance to the apex

perfect marginal palinactinodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with ramifications of the lateral actinodromous veins occupying at least two-thirds of the blade area and reaching the margins

perfect reticulate palinactinodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with ramifications of the lateral actinodromous veins occupying at least two-thirds of the blade area, but not reaching the margins

perigon:

the term used for tepals collectively

phalaenophilous:

moth-pollinated

phanerantherous:

stamens with anthers projecting beyond the perianth

phanerophyte:

woody or herbaceous evergreen perennials, taller than 50 cm, or whose shoots do not die back

plated:

with shallow, circular depressions

polyadelphous:

stamens with filaments in several, connate groups

porrect scales:

scales occuring in a cluster with the central scale larger than the others

porrect stellate hairs:

hairs with more than 5 rays, with the central larger than others

prickles:

epidermal extensions not associated with nodes (i.e., not spines or thorns)

procumbent:

flat, but loosely on the ground

prostrate:

flat on and close to the ground

psychophilous:

butterfly-pollinated

Q

quadrate rhombic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1, widest at the middle, and with straight margins

R

rachis:

an extension of the peduncle serving as the axis of an inflorescence

repent:

more or less horizontal, creeping

resin:

a usually sticky, volatile substance

reticulodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with secondary veins losing their identities toward the leaf margin by repeated branching into a vein reticulum

revolute:

inrolled half way to the midrib or more

rhizomes:

underground stem with reduced leaves and internodes

rhombic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest at the middle, and with straight margins

ridged:

with "prominent" longitudinal ribs

rosulate:

basal and appearing as a rosette

rotate stellate hairs:

hairs more than 5 rays in one plane

S

semicraspedodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with secondary veins branching just within the margin, one of the branches ending at the margin, the other joining the superadjacent secondary

sessile scales:

usually flat structures directly against the surface

shallowly deltate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest at the base, and with straight margins

shallowly obdeltate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest at the apex, and with straight margins

shallowly obtriangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, widest at the apex, and with straight margins

shallowly triangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, widest at the base, and with straight margins

shrubs:

branching near the base and therefore with several to many trunks near the base

simple craspedodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with all secondary veins and their branches ending at the margin

soboliferous:

shoots arising from the ground in clumps; usually applied to shrubs or small trees

spines:

sharp projections developed from modified leaves

spinulose:

stipules modified into spines

spurred:

with any basal or dorsal projections

square:

a shape with length to width rations of 1:1, and with parallel margins

stellate hairs:

hairs with more than 5 rays in more than one plane

stereomorphic:

flower shapes that are radially symmetric; 3-dimensional flowers

stolons:

above ground stem rooting at nodes

striate:

with "fine" longitudinal ribs

subopposite:

2 leaves almost opposite one another at the same node

suprabasal acrodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with 2 or more primary or strongly developed secondary veins arising some distance above the base and running in convergent arches toward the leaf apex

suprabasal palinactinodromous venation:

a leaf venation pattern with primaries diverging in a series of dichotomous branchings starting some distance above the base

syngenesious:

stamens with connate anthers

T

tap root:

primary root that more or less enlarges and grows downward

terminal bud:

the bud at the end of a twig

tetradynamous:

6 stamens; 4 long and 2 short

therophte:

annuals; plants that die after seed production and complete their entire life cycle within one year

thorns:

twigs modified into spinelike structures which may support leaves

transversely depressed trullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, widest toward the base, and with straight margins

transversely depressed obtrullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, widest toward the apex, and with straight margins

transversely elliptic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, widest at the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

transversely linear:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:12, and with parallel margins

transversely oblong:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, and with parallel margins

transversely rhombic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.5-1:2, widest at the middle, and with straight margins

transversely widely oblong:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, and with parallel margins

trees:

with a single or few trunks near the base

triangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest at the base, and with straight margins

trullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 2:1-1.5:1, widest toward the base, and with straight margins

tuberous roots:

a root, or portion of a root, enlarged for storage

tubers:

underground stem tip which is enlarged and fleshy

tubular:

cylindrical

tufted stellate hairs:

hairs with more than 5 rays on distinctly raised mounds of epidermal tissue

U

urceolate:

urn-shaped

V

valvate:

adjacent to but not overlapping one another

vascular bundle scar:

the scar formed by the vascular tissue when a leaf falls off the twig

vascular parasite:

a parasite that grows on living plants

vascular saprophyte:

growing on dead organic matter

vascular semi-parasite:

green plants growing attached to other living, autotrophic plants

ventricose:

inflated

very shallowly obtriangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:3-1:6, widest at the apex, with straight margins

very shallowly triangular:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:3-1:6, widest at the base, with straight margins

very widely obovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1, widest above the middle, with symmetrically curved margins

very widely trullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1, widest toward the base, with straight margins

very widely ovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1, widest below the middle, with symmetrically curved margins

very widely obtrullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1, widest toward the apex, with straight margins

W

warty:

with "knobby" lumps on the twig surface

whorled:

with 3 or more leaves at the same node

widely deltate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest at the base, and with straight margins

widely depressed trullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest toward the base, and with straight margins

widely depressed ovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest below the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

widely depressed obovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest above the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

widely depressed obtrullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest toward the apex, and with straight margins

widely elliptic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest at the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

widely obdeltate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest at the apex, and with straight margins

widely oblong:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, and with parallel margins

widely obovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest above the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

widely obtrullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest toward the apex, and with straight margins

widely ovate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest below the middle, and with symmetrically curved margins

widely rhombic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest at the middle, and with straight margins

widely transversely rhombic:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1:1.2, widest at the middle and with straight margins

widely trullate:

a shape with length to width ratios of 1.2:1, widest toward the base, and with straight margins

winged:

with an extension emanating from the stem

X

No entries.

Y

No entries.

Z

zygomorphic:

flower shapes that are bilaterally symmetrical