Glossary Of Botanical Terms
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This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to
botany Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...
and
plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...
s in general. Terms of
plant morphology Phytomorphology is the study of the morphology (biology), physical form and external structure of plants.Raven, P. H., R. F. Evert, & S. E. Eichhorn. ''Biology of Plants'', 7th ed., page 9. (New York: W. H. Freeman, 2005). . This is usually cons ...
are included here as well as at the more specific
Glossary of plant morphology This page provides a glossary of plant morphology. Botanists and other biologists who study plant morphology use a number of different terms to classify and identify plant organs and parts that can be observed using no more than a handheld magnify ...
and
Glossary of leaf morphology The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
. For other related terms, see
Glossary of phytopathology This is a glossary of some of the terms used in phytopathology. Phytopathology is the study of plant diseases. It is a multi-disciplinary science since prerequisites for disease development are the presence of a susceptible host species, a pathog ...
,
Glossary of lichen terms The following is a glossary of scientific terminology, terms used in the description of lichens, composite organisms that arise from algae or cyanobacteria living among Hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species in a Mutualism (biology), mutuali ...
, and
List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages to understand and remember the scientific names of organisms. The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants i ...
.


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C

{{term, term= caducous , content=
caducous Dehiscence is the splitting of a mature plant structure along a built-in line of weakness to release its contents. This is common among fruits, anthers and sporangia. Sometimes this involves the complete detachment of a part; structures that op ...
{{defn, defn= Falling off early, e.g. the {{gli, sepals of poppies, which fall off when the {{gli, petals begin to open. Compare ''{{gli, persistent'' and ''{{gli, fugacious''. {{term, term= caespitose , content=
caespitose This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= Tufted or turf-like, e.g. the growth form of some grasses. {{term, term= calcarate , content=
calcarate This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= possessing a {{gli, spur. {{term, term= calcareous , content=
calcareous Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcareous'' is used as an adje ...
{{defn, defn= A
soil type A soil type is a taxonomic unit in soil science. All soils that share a certain set of well-defined properties form a distinctive soil type. Soil type is a technical term of soil classification, the science that deals with the systematic categoriz ...
or a lichen substrate rock type that is rich in or largely composed of calcium carbonate. {{term, term= calceolate {{defn, defn= Shaped like a slipper.{{sfn, Pell, Angell, 2016, p=41 {{term, term= calcicole , content=
calcicole A calcicole, calciphyte or calciphile is a plant that thrives in lime rich soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to dwell on chalk'. Under acidic conditions, aluminium becomes more soluble and phosphate less. As a consequence, calcicoles grown ...
{{defn, defn= A plant which thrives in {{gli, calcareous soil. Also calciphile, calciphyte.
Antonym In lexical semantics, opposites are words lying in an inherently incompatible binary relationship. For example, something that is ''long'' entails that it is not ''short''. It is referred to as a 'binary' relationship because there are two members ...
: ''calcifuge''. {{sfn, Pell, Angell, 2016, p=41 {{term, term= callose, content=
callose Callose is a plant polysaccharide. Its production is due to the glucan synthase-like gene (GLS) in various places within a plant. It is produced to act as a temporary cell wall in response to stimuli such as stress or damage. Callose is composed ...
{{defn, defn= Hardened; thickened; callous. {{term, term= callus {{defn, defn={{ghat, ''pl.'' calli 1.  A protruding mass of tissue {{defn, no=2, defn= Undifferentiated tissue growth formed in response to wounding; may be grown ''in vitro''. {{defn, no=3, defn= In orchids, fleshy outgrowths from the {{gli, labellum which can be variously shaped from {{gli, papilla, papillae to plates. {{defn, no=4, defn= In grasses, a hardened extension from the base of a {{gli, floret (formed from the {{gli, rachilla joint and/or the base of the {{gli, lemma), which may or may not elongate and is often covered in hairs or bristles. {{term, term= calyciflorous {{defn, defn= Having {{gli, petals and {{gli, stamens attached to the {{gli, calyx. {{term, term= calycophyll , content= calycophyll {{defn, defn= Leaf-like structure formed from a {{gli, sepal or {{gli, calyx lobe which enlarges, usually many-fold, before or after {{gli, anthesis, especially when most of the other sepals or calyx lobes retain their original size. More extreme than an {{gli, accrescent calyx, calycophylls are found in
Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules ...
. Compare ''{{gli, semaphyll'' and ''{{gli, pterophyll''. {{term, term= calyculate {{defn, defn= Having an {{gli, epicalyx. {{term, term= calyculus , content= calyculus {{defn, no=1, defn= A cup-shaped structure formed from {{gli, bracts resembling an outer {{gli, calyx. {{defn, no=2, defn= In some
Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...
, a circle of bracts below the {{gli, involucre. {{term, term= calyptra , content= calyptra {{defn, defn= A hood or lid. See ''{{gli, operculum''. {{term, term= calyx , content= calyx {{defn, defn= {{ghat, ''pl.'' calyces Collective term for the {{gli, sepals of one flower; the outer {{gli, whorl of a flower, usually green. Compare ''{{gli, corolla''. {{term, term= calyx tube , content=
calyx tube A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...
{{defn, defn= A tube formed by the fusion of the sepals ({{gli, calyx), at least at the base. {{term, term= cambium , content=
cambium A cambium (plural cambia or cambiums), in plants, is a tissue layer that provides partially undifferentiated cells for plant growth. It is found in the area between xylem and phloem. A cambium can also be defined as a cellular plant tissue from w ...
{{defn, defn= Tissue layer that provides partially undifferentiated cells for plant growth. {{term, term= campanulate , content= {{vanchor,
campanulate This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= Bell-shaped. {{term, term= camptodromous , content= camptodromous {{defn, defn= {{gli, pinnate, Pinnate {{gli, venation in which the {{gli, secondary veins curve toward the margins, in some cases becoming nearly parallel with them, and not reconnecting with other veins to form loops. {{term, term= campylotropous , content= campylotropous {{defn, defn= When the {{gli, ovule is oriented transversely (i.e. with its axis at right angles to its stalk) and with a curved
embryo sac In seed plants, the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: the ''integument'', forming its outer layer, the ''nucellus'' (or remnant of the megasporangium), and the fe ...
. Compare ''{{gli, amphitropus'', ''{{gli, anatropous'', and ''{{gli, orthotropous''. {{term, term= canaliculate , content= canaliculate {{defn, defn= Channelled; having a longitudinal groove. {{term, term= canescent , content= canescent {{defn, defn= Approaching white in color, as in a leaf covered with white down or wool. {{term, term= canopy , content=
canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an a ...
{{defn, defn= Branches and foliage of a tree; the {{gli, crown. Also refers to the protective upper layer of a forest. Compare ''{{gli, trunk''. {{term, term= capillary , content=
capillary A capillary is a small blood vessel from 5 to 10 micrometres (μm) in diameter. Capillaries are composed of only the tunica intima, consisting of a thin wall of simple squamous endothelial cells. They are the smallest blood vessels in the body: ...
{{defn, no=1, defn= Tube, pore, or passage with a narrow, internal cross-section. {{defn, no=2, defn= Slender; hair-like. {{term, term= capitate , content=
capitate The capitate bone is a bone in the human wrist found in the center of the carpal bone region, located at the distal end of the radius and ulna bones. It articulates with the third metacarpal bone (the middle finger) and forms the third carpomet ...
{{defn, no=1, defn= (of an {{gli, inflorescence) Having a knob-like head, with the flowers unstalked and aggregated into a dense cluster. {{defn, no=2, defn= (of a {{gli, stigma) Like the head of a pin. {{term, term= capitulum , content=
capitulum capitulum (plural capitula) may refer to: *the Latin word for chapter ** an index or list of chapters at the head of a gospel manuscript ** a short reading in the Liturgy of the Hours *** derived from which, it is the Latin for the assembly known ...
{{defn, defn= Dense cluster of {{gli, sessile or {{gli, subsessile {{gli, flowers or {{gli, florets, e.g. a flower {{gli, head in the daisy family
Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...
. See ''{{gli, pseudanthium''. {{term, term= capsule , content= capsule {{defn, defn= Dry {{gli, fruit formed from two or more united {{gli, carpels and {{gli, dehiscent, dehiscing when ripe (usually by splitting into pieces or opening at summit by teeth or pores). {{term, term= carduoid , content= carduoid {{defn, defn= In
Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...
, having a {{gli, style with a ring of sweeping hairs borne on the shaft of the style below the style branches. {{term, term= carina {{defn, defn= See ''{{gli, keel''. {{term, term= carinal canal {{defn, defn= Longitudinal cavity in the {{gli, stems of ''
Equisetum ''Equisetum'' (; horsetail, snake grass, puzzlegrass) is the only living genus in Equisetaceae, a family of ferns, which reproduce by spores rather than seeds. ''Equisetum'' is a "living fossil", the only living genus of the entire subclass Eq ...
'' and extinct
Equisetopsida Equisetidae is one of the four subclasses of Polypodiopsida (ferns), a group of vascular plants with a fossil record going back to the Devonian. They are commonly known as horsetails. They typically grow in wet areas, with whorls of needle-like ...
, coinciding with a ridge in the stem surface. {{term, term= carneous , content= carneous {{defn, defn= Flesh-colored, especially as applied to some flowers. {{term, term= carnose, carnous , content= carnose, carnous {{defn, defn= Fleshy or pulpy in texture, especially as applied to some tissues or organs. Contrast ''{{gli, coriaceous'' and ''{{gli, corneous''. {{term, term= Caropodium , content= ''
Caropodium ''Caropodium'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Apiaceae Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus '' Apium'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley ...
'' {{defn, defn= Genus of flowering plants in the family
Apiaceae Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering plants ...
. Native range: Turkey to Iran. Not to be confused with ''{{gli, Carpopodium, Carpopodium'' {{term, term= carpel , content=
carpel Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ''pistils'' ...
{{defn, defn= The basic female reproductive organ in {{gli, angiosperm, angiosperms, either consisting of a single {{gli, sporophyll or a single {{gli, locule of a compound {{gli, ovary, with a {{gli, style and a {{gli, stigma. The {{gli, gynoecium is the collective term for all of the carpels of a single {{gli, flower. {{term, term= carpellary , content= carpellary {{defn, defn= Referring to carpels or to associated structures or outgrowths of carpels, for example
staminode In botany, a staminode is an often rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen, which means that it does not produce pollen.Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; ''A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Derivation and Accent''; Published by Gerald Duckworth & Co. ...
s attached to carpels in Nymphaeaceae, were frequently referred to as carpellary attachments. The current and past usage of the terms "carpellary attachments", {{gli, paracarpel, paracarpels, and {{gli, staminodes is confused and varies among authors. {{term, term= carpopodium , content= carpopodium {{defn, defn= On {{gli, achenes (Cypselae), an elongation of the base of the {{gli, gynoecium which looks distinct; the {{gli, abscission zone, where the achene is separated from the {{gli, receptacle. {{defn, no=2, defn= Genus '' Carpopodium'' in the family
Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The le ...
; not to be confused with ''{{gli, Caropodium''. {{term, term= cartilaginous , content=
cartilaginous Cartilage is a resilient and smooth type of connective tissue. In tetrapods, it covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints as articular cartilage, and is a structural component of many body parts including the rib cage, the neck and ...
{{defn, defn= Hard and tough; gristly. Compare ''{{gli, corneous'' and ''{{gli, coriaceous''. {{term, term= caruncle , content= caruncle {{defn, defn= A small piece of flesh-like tissue, typically lumpy or warty, growing on the {{gli, testa near the {{gli, hilum. Contrast ''{{gli, aril''. {{term, term= caryopsis , content=
caryopsis In botany, a caryopsis (plural caryopses) is a type of simple fruit—one that is monocarpellate (formed from a single carpel) and indehiscent (not opening at maturity) and resembles an achene, except that in a caryopsis the pericarp is fused ...
{{defn, defn= A dry, {{gli, indehiscent, one-seeded {{gli, fruit in which the {{gli, seed coat is closely fused to the fruit wall, e.g. in most grasses. {{term, term= Casparian strip , content=
Casparian strip The Casparian strip is a band-like thickening in the center of the root endodermis (radial and tangential walls of endodermal cells) of vascular plants (Pteridophytes and Spermatophytes). The composition of the region is mainly suberin, lignin and ...
{{defn, defn= A continuous band of
suberin Suberin, cutin and lignins are complex, higher plant epidermis and periderm cell-wall macromolecules, forming a protective barrier. Suberin, a complex polyester biopolymer, is lipophilic, and composed of long chain fatty acids called suberin aci ...
in the radial primary cell walls of the {{gli, endodermis in vascular plant stems and roots that forms a permeability barrier to the passive diffusion of external water and solutes into the vascular tissue. {{term, term= cassideous , content= cassideous {{defn, defn= Hood-, helmet- or bonnet-shaped; generally referring to floral anatomy, e.g. in the flowers of ''
Aconitum ''Aconitum'' (), also known as aconite, monkshood, wolf's-bane, leopard's bane, mousebane, women's bane, devil's helmet, queen of poisons, or blue rocket, is a genus of over 250 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. ...
'', '' Satyrium'', etc. {{term, term= castaneous , content=
castaneous Chestnut or castaneous is a colour, a medium reddish shade of brown (displayed right), and is named after the nut of the chestnut tree. An alternate name for the colour is badious. Indian red is a similar but separate and distinct colour fro ...
{{defn, defn= Chestnut-colored, reddish-brown.{{sfn, Pell, Angell, 2016, p=46 {{term, term= casual alien , content= casual alien {{defn, defn= An exotic plant that appears with no apparent human assistance but does not develop a sustained population(s), or one that persists only by repeated new introductions. Compare ''{{gli, alien''. {{term, term= cataphyll , content=
cataphyll In plant morphology, a cataphyll (sometimes also called a ''cataphyllum'' or cataphyll leafJackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Derivation and Accent; Published by Gerald Duckworth & Co. London, 4th ed 1928) is a reduce ...
{{defn, defn= Any plant structure which is morphologically a {{gli, leaf but which has at most an incidental or transient {{gli, photosynthesis, photosynthetic function. They are either shed when their main function has been completed, or are incorporated into structures where, when dead, they serve a protective or supportive purpose. {{term, term= catenate , content= catenulate {{defn, defn= In the shape of a chain; formed of parts or cells connected as if chained together, e.g. some
diatom A diatom (Neo-Latin ''diatoma''), "a cutting through, a severance", from el, διάτομος, diátomos, "cut in half, divided equally" from el, διατέμνω, diatémno, "to cut in twain". is any member of a large group comprising sev ...
s,
algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...
, and
cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria (), also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. The name ''cyanobacteria'' refers to their color (), which similarly forms the basis of cyanobacteria's common name, blu ...
such as ''
Anabaena ''Anabaena'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria that exist as plankton. They are known for nitrogen-fixing abilities, and they form symbiotic relationships with certain plants, such as the mosquito fern. They are one of four genera of cyanob ...
''. See also ''{{gli, concatenate''. {{term, term= catkin , content=
catkin A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster (a spike), with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind-pollinated (anemophilous) but sometimes insect-pollinated (as in ''Salix''). They contain many, usually unisexual flowers, arranged cl ...
{{defn, defn= A {{gli, spike, usually pendulous, in which the mostly small {{gli, flowers are {{gli, unisexual and without a conspicuous {{gli, perianth, e.g. in
willows Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist s ...
,
poplars ''Populus'' is a genus of 25–30 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar (), aspen, and cottonwood. The we ...
, oaks, and
casuarina ''Casuarina'' is a genus of 17 tree species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australia, the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, islands of the western Pacific Ocean, and eastern Africa. It was once treated as the sole genus in the fami ...
s. The individual flowers often have scaly {{gli, bracts and are generally {{gli, anemophilous, wind-pollinated. Catkins are usually shed as a unit. {{term, term= caudate {{defn, defn= Having a narrow, tail-like appendage or tip, e.g. a {{gli, drip tip. Contrast ''{{gli, acuminate'', ''{{gli, cuspidate'', and ''{{gli, mucronate''. {{term, term= caudex , content=
caudex A caudex (plural: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695 In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is m ...
{{defn, defn= {{ghat, ''pl.'' caudices The {{gli, stem of a plant, especially a {{gli, woody one; also used to mean a {{gli, rootstock, or particularly a {{gli, basal stem structure or storage organ from which new growth arises. Compare ''{{gli, lignotuber''. {{term, term= caudiciform , content= caudiciform {{defn, defn= {{gli, Stem-like or {{gli, caudex-like; sometimes used to mean " pachycaul", meaning "thick-stemmed". {{term, term= caulescent, content=
caulescent This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= possessing a well-developed
stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
above ground, similar to {{gli, cauline.
Antonym In lexical semantics, opposites are words lying in an inherently incompatible binary relationship. For example, something that is ''long'' entails that it is not ''short''. It is referred to as a 'binary' relationship because there are two members ...
: ''{{gli, acaulescent'' (lacking an apparent stem). {{term, term= cauliflory , content= cauliflory {{defn, defn= {{ghat, ''adj.'' cauliflorous Having flowers or fruits growing directly from a tree's branches or trunk.{{sfn, Pell, Angell, 2016, p=47 {{term, term= cauline , content=
cauline A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...
{{defn, defn= Borne on an aerial {{gli, stem or {{gli, caulis, as with leaves, flowers, or fruits (when applied to the latter two organs, usually referring to older stems. {{term, term= caulirosulate , content= caulirosulate {{defn, defn= Borne at the end of the {{gli, stem or {{gli, caulis, as with leaves or bracts. {{term, term= cell , content=
cell Cell most often refers to: * Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life Cell may also refer to: Locations * Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery ...
{{defn, no=1, defn= The basic, microscopic unit of plant structure, generally consisting of compartments in a viscous fluid surrounded by a {{gli, cell wall. {{defn, no=2, defn= A cavity of an {{gli, anther or {{gli, ovary. {{term, term= cenanthy , content= cenanthous {{defn, defn= (of a {{gli, perianth) Lacking both {{gli, stamens and {{gli, pistil, i.e. a flower with neither {{gli, androecium nor {{gli, gynoecium. {{term, term= centrifixed , content= centrifixed {{defn, defn= Of a two-branched organ attached by its center, e.g. a hair or {{gli, anther. {{term, term= ceraceous , content= ceraceous {{defn, defn= Having a waxy appearance, color, or texture, e.g. flowers of many species of ''
Ceropegia ''Ceropegia'' is a genus of plants within the family Apocynaceae, native to Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. It was named by Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in his ''Genera plantarum'', which appeared in 1737. Linnaeus referre ...
'', and the waxy fruit of some species of ''
Myrica ''Myrica'' is a genus of about 35–50 species of small trees and shrubs in the family Myricaceae, order Fagales. The genus has a wide distribution, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, and missing only from Austral ...
''. {{term, term= cernuous , content= cernuous, cernua {{defn, defn= Nodding, falling headlong or face down; inclined, stooping, or bowing forward. Applied to many species with a nodding, stooping {{gli, habit, such as many '' Narcissus'' and '' Dierama'' species. Many plant species bear the {{gli, specific epithet "''cernua''". {{term, term= cespitose , content=
cespitose This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= An alternative spelling of {{gli, caespitose, meaning tufted or turf-like, e.g. the growth form of some grasses. {{term, term= chamber {{defn, defn= A cavity of an {{gli, ovary. {{term, term= channelled {{defn, defn= Sunken below the surface, resulting in a rounded channel. {{term, term= chartaceous , content= chartaceous {{defn, defn= Having a papery texture. {{term, term= chasmogamous , content=
chasmogamous Chasmogamy, is a plant reproductive mechanism in which pollination occurs in chasmogamous flowers. Chasmogamous flowers are commonly showy with open petals encircling exposed reproductive parts. Chasmogamous stems from Greek for "open marriage", na ...
{{defn, defn= Of flowers that are pollinated when the {{gli, perianth is open. Compare ''{{gli, cleistogamous''. {{term, term= chasmophyte , content= chasmophyte {{defn, defn= A plant adapted to growing in crevices or hollows, such as in cliff faces. Compare ''{{gli, cremnophyte''.{{Sfn, Jackson, 1928{{Sfn, Jaeger, 1959 {{term, term= chimera , content=
chimera Chimera, Chimaera, or Chimaira (Greek for " she-goat") originally referred to: * Chimera (mythology), a fire-breathing monster of Ancient Lycia said to combine parts from multiple animals * Mount Chimaera, a fire-spewing region of Lycia or Cilicia ...
{{defn, defn= An individual composed of two or more genetically distinct tissues, most commonly as a result of a {{gli, graft and sometimes by mutations that occur during cell division or cellular transfers during seed development. {{term, term= chiropterophilous , content= chiropterophilous {{defn, defn= {{gli, pollination, Pollinated by
bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most ...
s. {{term, term= chlorophyll , content=
chlorophyll Chlorophyll (also chlorophyl) is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words , ("pale green") and , ("leaf"). Chlorophyll allow plants to a ...
{{defn, defn= Any of a variety of different chemical pigments in {{gli, chloroplasts that are essential for {{gli, photosynthesis. {{term, term= chloroplast , content=
chloroplast A chloroplast () is a type of membrane-bound organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant and algal cells. The photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight, converts it, and stores it in ...
{{defn, defn= An
organelle In cell biology, an organelle is a specialized subunit, usually within a cell, that has a specific function. The name ''organelle'' comes from the idea that these structures are parts of cells, as organs are to the body, hence ''organelle,'' the ...
present in plant cells which contains {{gli, chlorophyll. {{term, term= chlorosis , content=
chlorosis In botany, chlorosis is a condition in which leaves produce insufficient chlorophyll. As chlorophyll is responsible for the green color of leaves, chlorotic leaves are pale, yellow, or yellow-white. The affected plant has little or no ability to ...
{{defn, defn= An abnormal lack or paleness of color in a normally green organ. {{term, term= cilia , content= cilia {{defn, defn={{ghat, ''sing.'' cilium; ''adj.'' {{gli, ciliate Very small hairs or hair-like protrusions more or less confined to the {{gli, margins of an organ, as with eyelashes; in motile cells, minute, hair-like protrusions which aid motility. {{term, term= circinate {{defn, defn= Spirally coiled with the tip innermost, e.g. circinate {{gli, vernation of the developing {{gli, fronds of most ferns. {{term, term=cirrhose, content= cirrhose {{defn, defn= (of a leaf) Ending in a {{gli, tendril at the {{gli, apex. {{term, term= cladode , content=
cladode Phylloclades and cladodes are flattened, photosynthetic shoots, which are usually considered to be modified branches. The two terms are used either differently or interchangeably by different authors. ''Phyllocladus'', a genus of conifer, is name ...
{{defn, defn= A {{gli, photosynthesis, photosynthetic {{gli, branch or {{gli, stem, often leaf-like and usually with foliage leaves either absent or much reduced. Compare ''{{gli, phyllode''. {{term, term= class , content=
class Class or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used differentl ...
{{defn, defn= The principal category for taxa ranking between {{gli, division and {{gli, order. {{term, term= clathrate {{defn, defn= Shaped like a net or lattice; pierced with apertures, as with a cage. {{term, term= clavate , content=
clavate This glossary of entomology describes terms used in the formal study of insect species by entomologists. A–C A synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, toxic to vertebrates. Though i ...
{{defn, defn= Club-shaped. {{term, term= clavuncula {{defn, defn= In the
Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (from ''Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison Members of the ...
, an enlarged, drum-shaped {{gli, stigma of which the sides and lower surface are the receptive zones. Coherent with the {{gli, anthers or not. {{term, term= claw {{defn, no=1, defn= A narrow, stalk-like, {{gli, basal portion of a {{gli, petal, {{gli, sepal, or {{gli, bract. {{defn, no=2, defn= In ''
Melaleuca ''Melaleuca'' () is a genus of nearly 300 species of plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, commonly known as paperbarks, honey-myrtles or tea-trees (although the last name is also applied to species of '' Leptospermum''). They range in size ...
'', the united portion of a {{gli, stamen bundle. {{term, term= cleistogamous , content=
cleistogamous Cleistogamy is a type of automatic self-pollination of certain plants that can propagate by using non-opening, self-pollinating flowers. Especially well known in peanuts, peas, and pansies, this behavior is most widespread in the grass family. How ...
{{defn, defn= Having flowers which self-pollinate and never open fully, or which self-pollinate before opening. Compare ''{{gli, chasmogamous''. {{term, term= climber , content= climber {{defn, defn= A plant growing more or less {{gli, erect by leaning on or twining around another structure for support, or by clinging with {{gli, tendril, tendrils. {{term, term= climbing {{defn, defn= See ''{{gli, climber''. {{term, term= cline , content=
cline Cline may refer to: Science * Cline (biology), a measurable gradient in a single trait in a species across its geographical range * Cline (hydrology), a fluid layer with a property that varies * Cline (mathematics) or generalised circle, a circl ...
{{defn, defn={{ghat, ''adj.'' clinal A continuous morphological variation in form within a species or sometimes between two species. {{term, term= clone , content= clone {{defn, defn= A plant derived from the asexual vegetative reproduction of a parent plant, with both plants having identical genetic compositions. {{term, term= coalescent , content=
coalescent ''Coalescent'' is a science-fiction novel by Stephen Baxter. It is part one of the ''Destiny's Children'' series. The story is set in two main time periods: modern Britain, when George Poole finds that he has a previously unknown sister and f ...
{{defn, defn= Having plant parts fused or grown together to form a single unit. {{term, term= cochleariform , content= cochleariform {{defn, defn= Concave and spoon-shaped. {{term, term= cochleate , content= cochleate {{defn, defn= Coiled like a snail's shell. {{term, term= coenobium , content= coenobium {{defn, defn= An arranged colony of
algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...
that acts like a single organism. {{term, term= coenocyte , content=
coenocyte A coenocyte () is a multinucleate cell which can result from multiple nuclear divisions without their accompanying cytokinesis, in contrast to a syncytium, which results from cellular aggregation followed by dissolution of the cell membranes insid ...
{{defn, defn= A single cell with multiple nuclei, formed when nuclear division was not followed by
cytokinesis Cytokinesis () is the part of the cell division process during which the cytoplasm of a single eukaryotic cell divides into two daughter cells. Cytoplasmic division begins during or after the late stages of nuclear division in mitosis and meios ...
. {{term, term= coleoptile , content= coleoptile {{defn, defn= One type of {{gli, sheath in the structure of {{gli, monocotyledonous seeds. The coleoptile is a protective sheath or cap ({{gli, pileus), generally more or less pointed, that covers the monocotyledonous {{gli, plumule as it emerges from the soil. It generally turns green and contributes to photosynthesis until its function is superseded by the main growth of the seedling. Contrast this with the {{gli, coleorhiza, which remains underground until it is superseded as the roots emerge. {{term, term= coleorhiza , content= coleorhiza {{defn, defn= One type of {{gli, sheath in the structure of {{gli, monocotyledonous seeds. The coleorhiza connects the coleoptile to the {{gli, radicle and protects the monocotyledonous radicle during germination. Unlike the coleoptile, the coleorhiza is associated with the root and does not emerge from the soil during germination. Contrast ''{{gli, coleoptile''. {{term, term= collenchyma , content=
collenchyma The ground tissue of plants includes all tissues that are neither dermal nor vascular. It can be divided into three types based on the nature of the cell walls. # Parenchyma cells have thin primary walls and usually remain alive after they bec ...
{{defn, defn= A specialized tissue consisting of living cells with unevenly thickened
cellulose Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important structural component of the primary cell wall ...
and
pectin Pectin ( grc, πηκτικός ': "congealed" and "curdled") is a heteropolysaccharide, a structural acid contained in the primary lamella, in the middle lamella, and in the cell walls of terrestrial plants. The principal, chemical component of ...
{{gli, cell wall, cell walls that performs a support function in organs such as leaves and young stems that are composed of primary plant tissues. {{term, term= colleter , content= colleter {{defn, defn= A multicellular, {{gli, glandular hair that usually produces a mucilaginous substance and is located on {{gli, sepals, {{gli, stipule, stipules, or {{gli, petiole, petioles, or on nearby parts of {{gli, stems; commonly found on plants in the order
Gentianales Gentianales is an order of flowering plants, included within the asterid clade of eudicots. It comprises more than 20,000 species in about 1,200 genera in 5 families. More than 80% of the species in this order belong to the family Rubiaceae. Ma ...
. {{term, term= columella , content=
columella Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (; Arabic: , 4 – ) was a prominent writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire. His ' in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture, together with the wo ...
{{defn, defn= In flowering plants, the central axis of the {{gli, cone or {{gli, fruit, e.g. in ''
Callitris ''Callitris'' is a genus of coniferous trees in the Cupressaceae (cypress family). There are 16 recognized species in the genus, of which 13 are native to Australia and the other three (''C. neocaledonica, C. sulcata'' and ''C. p ...
''. {{term, term= column , content=
column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
{{defn, no=1, A structure extending above the {{gli, ovary and incorporating the {{gli, style and {{gli, stamens also known as the {{gli, gynostegium, e.g. in
orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
s and
milkweed ''Asclepias'' is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweeds, named for their latex, a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides, exuded where cells are damaged. Most species are toxic to humans ...
s. {{defn, no=2, In grasses, the lower, stouter, and usually twisted part of an {{gli, awn, distinct from the slender upper part or bristle. {{term, term= columnar , content=
columnar Epithelium or epithelial tissue is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. It is a thin, continuous, protective layer of compactly packed cells with a little intercellula ...
{{defn, defn= Shaped like a column. {{term, term= coma , content=
coma A coma is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light, or sound, lacks a normal wake-sleep cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. Coma patients exhi ...
{{defn, no=1, A tuft of hairs from {{gli, testa or {{gli, funiculus at one or both ends of some seeds, e.g. in ''
Strophanthus ''Strophanthus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described as a genus in 1802. It is native primarily to tropical Africa, extending to South Africa, with a few species in Asia from southern India to New Guinea and ...
'', ''
Asclepias ''Asclepias'' is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweeds, named for their latex, a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides, exuded where cells are damaged. Most species are toxic to humans ...
'', or ''
Alstonia ''Alstonia'' is a widespread genus of evergreen trees and shrubs, of the family Apocynaceae. It was named by Robert Brown in 1811, after Charles Alston (1685–1760), professor of botany at Edinburgh from 1716 to 1760. The type species ''Alsto ...
''. {{defn, no=2, Sterile {{gli, bracts, e.g. in ''
Curcuma ''Curcuma'' () is a genus of plants in the family Zingiberaceae that contains such species as turmeric and Siam tulip. They are native to Southeast Asia, southern China, the Indian Subcontinent, New Guinea and northern Australia. Some species are ...
'', ''
Ananas ''Ananas'' is a plant genus in the family Bromeliaceae. It is native to South America. The genus contains ''Ananas comosus'', the pineapple. Species The genus ''Ananas'' includes only two species: Gallery File:Pineapple.plantation.jpg, Pinea ...
'', or ''
Eucomis ''Eucomis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to southern Africa. Most species of this genus are commonly referred to as pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies. They are bulbous perennials wit ...
''. {{defn, no=3, Sterile {{gli, flowers, e.g. in ''
Muscari ''Muscari'' is a genus of perennial bulbous plants native to Eurasia that produce spikes of dense, most commonly blue, urn-shaped flowers resembling bunches of grapes in the spring. The common name for the genus is grape hyacinth (a name which is ...
'' and ''
Leopoldia ''Leopoldia'' is a genus of bulbous perennial plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. The genus is widespread around the Mediterranean region and neighboring lands, from the Canary Islands to Iran. ''Leopoldia'' species were ...
'', at the {{gli, apex of some {{gli, inflorescence, inflorescences. {{defn, no=4, A tuft of hairs at the base of some flowers, e.g. in ''
Pfaffia ''Pfaffia'' is a genus of plants in the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain ...
gnaphalioides''. {{defn, no=5, A tuft of hairs at the apex or base of some {{gli, spikelets. {{defn, no=6, An {{gli, axil tuft of hairs in inflorescences in some
Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns an ...
, e.g. in ''
Eragrostis comata ''Eragrostis'' is a large and widespread genus of plants in the grass family, found in many countries on all inhabited continents and many islands. ''Eragrostis'' is commonly known as lovegrass or canegrass. The name of the genus is derived fr ...
''. {{term, term= commercial name , content= commercial name {{defn, defn= A name often of no botanical standing and not governed by the
ICNCP The ''International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants'' (ICNCP), is a guide to the rules and regulations for naming cultigens, plants whose origin or selection is primarily due to intentional human activity. It is also known as Cultivate ...
. The term generally applies to names such as Trademark Names, names covered by Plant Breeders Rights, Patents and Promotional Names, which are often used to enhance the sale of a plant. {{term, term= commissure , content=
commissure A commissure () is the location at which two objects abut or are joined. The term is used especially in the fields of anatomy and biology. * The most common usage of the term refers to the brain's commissures, of which there are five. Such a commi ...
{{defn, defn= The seam or face at which two {{gli, carpels adhere. See also {{gli, fissure and {{gli, suture. {{term, term= community , content=
community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...
{{defn, defn= An ecological assemblage of plants that characteristically occur together. {{term, term= compound {{defn, defn= Composed of several parts, e.g. a {{gli, leaf composed of multiple {{gli, leaflets, a {{gli, gynoecium composed of multiple {{gli, carpels, or an {{gli, inflorescence made up of multiple smaller inflorescences. {{term, term= compound palmate {{defn, defn= Having {{gli, leaflets that radiate from a central point (usually at the top of a {{gli, petiole), like spread-out fingers radiating from the palm of a hand. Compare ''{{gli, palmate''. {{term, term= compressed , content= compressed {{defn, defn= Flattened lengthwise, either laterally (from side to side) or dorsally (from front to back). {{term, term= concatenate , content= concatenate {{defn, defn= Joined together in a chain-like form. See also ''
concatenate In formal language theory and computer programming, string concatenation is the operation of joining character strings end-to-end. For example, the concatenation of "snow" and "ball" is "snowball". In certain formalisations of concatenat ...
'' and ''{{gli, catenate''. {{term, term= concolorous , content= concolorous {{defn, defn= Having the same color throughout; uniformly colored. {{term, term= conduplicate , content=
conduplicate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
{{defn, defn= Arranged such that two sides of a flat surface are folded along the midline to face each other. See also ''
ptyxis The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...
'', ''{{gli, aestivation'', and ''{{gli, vernation''. {{term, term= cone , content=
cone A cone is a three-dimensional geometric shape that tapers smoothly from a flat base (frequently, though not necessarily, circular) to a point called the apex or vertex. A cone is formed by a set of line segments, half-lines, or lines con ...
{{defn, defn= A type of {{gli, fruit, usually {{gli, woody, {{gli, ovoid to {{gli, globular, including {{gli, scale, scales, {{gli, bracts, or {{gli, bracteole, bracteoles arranged around a central axis, e.g. in
gymnosperms The gymnosperms ( lit. revealed seeds) are a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers, cycads, ''Ginkgo'', and gnetophytes, forming the clade Gymnospermae. The term ''gymnosperm'' comes from the composite word in el, γυμνό ...
, especially
conifers Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All extan ...
and ''
Casuarina ''Casuarina'' is a genus of 17 tree species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australia, the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, islands of the western Pacific Ocean, and eastern Africa. It was once treated as the sole genus in the fami ...
''. {{term, term= conflorescence {{defn, defn= A rarely used term describing substantial differences between the overall structure of an {{gli, inflorescence and that of its individual branches, e.g. the bottlebrush multiple-flower head of members of the genus ''
Callistemon ''Callistemon'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalised in scattered locations. Their status as a se ...
''. {{term, term= connate , content= connate {{defn, defn= Fused to another organ (or organs) of the same kind, e.g. {{gli, petals in a {{gli, gamopetalous {{gli, corolla tube. Compare ''{{gli, adnate''. {{term, term= connective , content= connective {{defn, defn= The part of an {{gli, anther that connects the anther cells. {{term, term= connivent , content=
connivent Connation in plants is the developmental fusion of organs of the same type, for example, petals to one another to form a tubular corolla. This is in contrast to adnation, the fusion of dissimilar organs. Such organs are described as connate or adn ...
{{defn, defn= Coming into contact or converging. {{term, term= conspecific , content=
conspecific Biological specificity is the tendency of a characteristic such as a behavior or a biochemical variation to occur in a particular species. Biochemist Linus Pauling stated that "Biological specificity is the set of characteristics of living organ ...
{{defn, defn= Belonging to the same {{gli, species. {{term, term= contiguous , content=
contiguous Contiguity or contiguous may refer to: *Contiguous data storage, in computer science *Contiguity (probability theory) *Contiguity (psychology) *Contiguous distribution of species, in biogeography *Geographic contiguity of territorial land *Contigu ...
{{defn, defn= Adjoining, touching, but not united. {{term, term= contort , content= contort {{defn, defn= (of {{gli, sepals or {{gli, petals) A type of imbricate {{gli, aestivation in which one side of each segment overlaps one of the adjacent segments and the other side is overlapped by the other adjacent segment. See ''{{gli, convolute''. {{term, term= contorted , content= contorted {{defn, defn= Twisted out of the normal shape. {{term, term= convolute , content= convolute {{defn, no=1, Referring to the arrangement of floral or foliar organs in a {{gli, bud when each organ or segment has one edge overlapping the adjacent organ or segment; a form of {{gli, imbricate arrangement. See ''{{gli, contort''. {{defn, no=2, defn= (of {{gli, leaf, leaves) A type of {{gli, vernation in which one leaf is rolled up inside another. {{defn, no=3, defn= A type of vernation of two leaves at a {{gli, node, in which one half of each leaf is exposed and the other half is wrapped inside the other leaf. {{term, term= corcle , content= corcle {{defn, defn= A plant {{gli, embryo, {{gli, plumule, or plumule plus {{gli, radicle. {{term, term= cordate , content=
cordate Cordate is an adjective meaning ' heart-shaped' and is most typically used for: * Cordate (leaf shape) The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a ...
{{defn, defn= Heart-shaped, with the notch lowermost; of the base of a {{gli, leaf, like the notched part of a heart. Contrast ''{{gli, obcordate''. {{term, term= coriaceous , content= coriaceous {{defn, defn= Leathery; stiff and tough, but flexible. Compare ''{{gli, corneous''. {{term, term= corm , content=
corm A corm, bulbo-tuber, or bulbotuber is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ that some plants use to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat (perennation). The word ' ...
{{defn, defn= {{ghat, ''adj.'' cormose, cormous A fleshy, swollen {{gli, stem base, usually underground and functioning in the storage of food reserves, with {{gli, bud, buds naked or covered by very thin scales; a type of {{gli, rootstock. {{term, term= cormel , content= cormel {{defn, defn= A small {{gli, corm (or cormlet), forming at the base of a growing larger corm.{{sfn, Pell, Angell, 2016, p=58 {{term, term= corneous , content= corneous {{defn, defn= Horny in texture; stiff and hard, but somewhat tough. Compare ''{{gli, coriaceous''. {{term, term= corolla , content= corolla {{defn, defn= A collective term for the {{gli, petals of a {{gli, flower. Compare ''{{gli, calyx''. {{term, term= corona , content=
corona Corona (from the Latin for 'crown') most commonly refers to: * Stellar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun or another star * Corona (beer), a Mexican beer * Corona, informal term for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 di ...
{{defn, no=1, In flowering plants, a ring of structures that may be united in a tube, arising from the {{gli, corolla or {{gli, perianth of a flower and standing between the perianth lobes and the {{gli, stamens. The trumpet of a
daffodil ''Narcissus'' is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil,The word "daffodil" is also applied to related genera such as '' Sternbergia'', ''Is ...
is a corona. {{defn, no=2, In grasses, a hardened ring of tissue surmounting the {{gli, lemma in some species. {{term, term= cortex , content=
cortex Cortex or cortical may refer to: Biology * Cortex (anatomy), the outermost layer of an organ ** Cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the vertebrate cerebrum, part of which is the ''forebrain'' *** Motor cortex, the regions of the cerebral cortex i ...
{{defn, defn={{ghat, ''pl.'' cortexes or cortices A region of tissue located between the {{gli, epidermis, surface cells and the {{gli, vascular cylinder.{{sfn, Beentje, 2010, page=33 {{term, term= corticolous {{defn, defn= Growing on {{gli, bark or on wood with the bark stripped off. Compare ''{{gli, lignicolous''. {{term, term= corymb , content=
corymb Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial re ...
{{defn, defn={{ghat, ''adj.'' corymbose An {{gli, inflorescence with branches arising at different points but reaching about the same height, giving the flower cluster a flat-topped appearance. {{term, term= costa , content= costa {{defn, defn= A {{gli, rib. {{term, term= costapalmate {{defn, defn= Having a definite {{gli, costa (midrib), unlike the typical {{gli, palmate or fan leaf, but with the {{gli, leaflets arranged radially as in a palmate leaf. {{term, term= cotyledon , content=
cotyledon A cotyledon (; ; ; , gen. (), ) is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant, and is defined as "the embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first to appear from a germinating seed." The numb ...
{{defn, defn= The primary leaf or leaves of a plant embryo which upon germination develops into the seed-leaf or the first set of leaves. {{term, term= craspedodromous , content= craspedodromous {{defn, defn= {{gli, pinnate, Pinnate {{gli, venation in which the {{gli, secondary vein, secondary veins terminate at the {{gli, margins, often as teeth. {{term, term= crateriform , content= crateriform {{defn, defn= In the shape of a saucer or shallow cup; hemispherical or more shallow. {{term, term= cremnophyte , content= cremnophyte {{defn, defn= A plant adapted to growing on, especially hanging from, cliff faces or crevices. Compare ''{{gli, chasmophyte''.{{Sfn, Jackson, 1928{{Sfn, Jaeger, 1959 {{term, term= crenate , content=
crenate A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...
{{defn, defn= Having blunt or rounded teeth;
scallop Scallop () is a common name that encompasses various species of marine bivalve mollusks in the taxonomic family Pectinidae, the scallops. However, the common name "scallop" is also sometimes applied to species in other closely related families ...
ed. {{term, term= crenulate , content=
crenulate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
{{defn, defn= Minutely scalloped. {{term, term= crisped , content= crisped {{defn, defn= Finely curled, as with the edges of leaves and petals. {{term, term= cristarque cell , content= cristarque cell {{defn, defn= A
sclereid Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most plants.Evert, Ray F; Eichhorn, Susan E. Esau's Plant Anatomy: Meristems, Cells, and Ti ...
which contains a {{gli, druse and has the
lignin Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants. Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidity ...
deposited excentrically on the {{gli, cell wall to form a cup shape, or in cross-section, a ∪-shape. {{term, term= crown , content=
crown A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, partic ...
{{defn, defn= See ''{{gli, canopy''. {{term, term= cross , content=
cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...
{{defn, defn= To make something interbreed; the act of hybridization. {{term, term= cruciform , content=
cruciform Cruciform is a term for physical manifestations resembling a common cross or Christian cross. The label can be extended to architectural shapes, biology, art, and design. Cruciform architectural plan Christian churches are commonly described ...
{{defn, defn= Cross-shaped. {{term, term= crustaceous , content= crustaceous {{defn, defn= Hard, thin and brittle. {{term, term= crustose {{defn, defn= Forming a closely applied surface layer or crust. {{term, term= cryptogam , content=
cryptogam A cryptogam (scientific name Cryptogamae) is a plant (in the wide sense of the word) or a plant-like organism that reproduces by spores, without flowers or seeds. The name ''Cryptogamae'' () means "hidden reproduction", referring to the fact ...
{{defn, defn= Any of the "lower plants" which produce
spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...
s and do not have {{gli, stamens, {{gli, ovary, ovaries, or {{gli, seed, seeds; literally, plants whose sexual reproductive organs are not conspicuous. This group typically includes the
fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except t ...
s,
bryophyte The Bryophyta s.l. are a proposed taxonomic division containing three groups of non-vascular land plants (embryophytes): the liverworts, hornworts and mosses. Bryophyta s.s. consists of the mosses only. They are characteristically limited in ...
s, and
algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...
, and sometimes
fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
(including lichenized fungi). Compare ''{{gli, phanerogam''. {{term, term= cucullate , content= cucullate {{defn, defn= Hood-like or hooded, commonly referring to the shape of leaves or petals, e.g. ''
Pelargonium cucullatum ''Pelargonium cucullatum'' is a hairy, upright, branching, perennial shrub, of high, that has been assigned to the cranesbill family. It sprouts new stems from the underground rootstock and becomes woody at its base. It has alternately set, so ...
''. Similarly derived terms include ''cuculliform'' and ''cuccularis''. {{term, term= culm , content= culm {{defn, defn= In grasses, sedges, rushes, and some other {{gli, monocotyledon, monocotyledons, an {{gli, aerial {{gli, stem bearing the {{gli, inflorescence, extending strictly from the base of the plant to the lowest {{gli, involucral bract (or base of the inflorescence). {{term, term= cultigen , content=
cultigen A cultigen () or cultivated plant is a plant that has been deliberately altered or selected by humans; it is the result of artificial selection. These plants, for the most part, have commercial value in horticulture, agriculture or forestry. Beca ...
{{defn, defn= A plant whose origin or selection is primarily due to intentional human activity. {{term, term= cultivar , content=
cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
{{defn, defn= A term derived from "cultivated variety" denoting an assemblage of cultivated plants clearly distinguished by one or more characters (morphological, physiological, cytological, chemical, or other). When reproduced (either sexually or asexually), the assemblage retains its distinguishing characters. A cultivar may arise in cultivation or be introduced from the wild. It is a variant that is of
horticultural Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
interest or value. Cultivar names are written with single quotation marks around them, e.g. 'Blue Carpet' or 'Alba'. All new names established after 1 January 1959 must be in common language (that is, not in Latin), but names established in Latin prior to this date are retained in Latin form. {{term, term= cultivar epithet , content=
cultivar epithet A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
{{defn, defn= The defining part of a name that denominates a {{gli, cultivar. Cultivars are designated by fancy (q.v.) epithets appended either to the scientific name or to the common name of the taxon to which they belong; they are not italicized but placed in single quotation marks, e.g. ''Rubus nitidoides'' 'Merton Early'. 'Merton Early' is the cultivar epithet. {{term, term= cuneate {{defn, defn= Wedge-shaped, with straight sides converging at a base. {{term, term= cupule , content=
cupule A cupule is a small structure shaped like a cup, including: * In archeology, rock cupules are circular man-made hollows on the surface of a large rock or a rock slab ** On a smaller artifact they are called a cupstone. * In botany: the base of an ...
{{defn, defn= A cup-shaped structure composed of {{gli, coalescent {{gli, bracts, such as the cup of an
acorn The acorn, or oaknut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives (genera ''Quercus'' and '' Lithocarpus'', in the family Fagaceae). It usually contains one seed (occasionally two seeds), enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne ...
. See ''{{gli, calybium''. {{term, term= cupular , content= cupular {{defn, defn= Shaped like a {{gli, cupule. {{term, term= cupulate , content= cupulate {{defn, defn= Bearing {{gli, cupule, cupules. {{term, term= cupuliform , content= cupuliform {{defn, defn= Nearly hemispherical, shaped like a cupola or dome. {{term, term= cusp , content=
cusp A cusp is the most pointed end of a curve. It often refers to cusp (anatomy), a pointed structure on a tooth. Cusp or CUSP may also refer to: Mathematics * Cusp (singularity), a singular point of a curve * Cusp catastrophe, a branch of bifurc ...
{{defn, defn= A hard, pointed tip, stiffer and more formidable than a {{gli, mucro, hence {{gli, cuspidate. {{term, term= cuspidate , content=
cuspidate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
{{defn, defn= Tipped with a {{gli, cusp, as with some leaves. {{term, term= cuticle , content=
cuticle A cuticle (), or cuticula, is any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticle" are non- homologous, differing in their origin, structu ...
{{defn, defn= A waterproofing layer covering the {{gli, epidermis of {{gli, aerial plant surfaces and composed of the polymers
cutin Cutin is one of two waxy polymers that are the main components of the plant cuticle, which covers all aerial surfaces of plants. It is an insoluble substance with waterproof quality. Cutin also harbors cuticular waxes, which assist in cuticle stru ...
, and/or cutan and waxes. {{term, term= cutting , content=
cutting Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. Implements commonly used for wikt:cut, cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the scal ...
{{defn, defn= An {{gli, apical tip of {{gli, shoot structure, {{gli, root, or {{gli, leaf which is cut from a plant and used for asexual vegetative propagation. {{term, term= cyathium , content=
cyathium A cyathium (plural: cyathia) is one of the specialised pseudanthia ("false flowers") forming the inflorescence of plants in the genus ''Euphorbia'' (Euphorbiaceae). A cyathium consists of: * Five (rarely four) bracteoles. These are small, uni ...
{{defn, defn={{ghat, ''pl.'' cyathia An {{gli, inflorescence of {{gli, unisexual flowers surrounded by {{gli, involucre, involucral bracts, especially the flowers of ''
Euphorbia ''Euphorbia'' is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae (in deference to t ...
''. {{term, term= cyathophyll , content= cyathophyll {{defn, defn= In ''
Euphorbia ''Euphorbia'' is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae (in deference to t ...
'', the {{gli, bract-like structure on which the {{gli, involucre sits, usually but not always occurring in twos. They may sometimes be brightly colored and confused with {{gli, petals. {{term, term= cylindrical , content= cylindrical {{defn, defn= Rod-like and two to three times as long as wide. Compare ''{{gli, baculiform''. {{term, term=cynaroid , content= cynaroid {{defn, defn= See ''{{gli, carduoid''. {{term, term= cyme , content= cyme {{defn, defn={{ghat, ''adj.'' {{gli, cymose A type of {{gli, inflorescence in which the main axis and all lateral branches end in a {{gli, flower (each lateral may be repeatedly branched). {{term, term= cymose , content=
cymose An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
{{defn, Having a {{gli, cyme or cymes. {{term, term= cypsela , content= cypsela {{defn, defn= A type of dry, one-seeded, {{gli, indehiscent {{gli, fruit formed from an {{gli, inferior ovary. {{glossary end {{Compact ToC , side=yes }


D

{{glossary {{term, term= deciduous , content=
deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
{{defn, defn= {{gli, dehiscent, Dehiscing and falling seasonally, as with {{gli, bark, {{gli, leaf, leaves, or {{gli, petals. Contrast ''{{gli, persistent''. {{term, term= declinate , content={{vanchor,
declinate This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= Curving downward, and then upward at the tip. Often qualified, e.g. declinate-ascendant. {{term, term= decompound {{defn, defn= Divided to more than one level, e.g. in {{gli, bipinnate leaves, in which the {{gli, leaflets of what would otherwise be a {{gli, pinnate leaf are themselves pinnately divided. {{term, term= decorticate {{defn, no=1, (intr. v.) To shed the outer bark of a tree, usually seasonally as part of the natural growth cycle. {{defn, no=2, (tr. v.) To strip the peel, crust, bark, or other surface tissues from a plant or from harvested material, such as in extracting fiber from harvested ''Agave'' leaves. {{term, term= decumbent {{defn, defn= Having branches growing horizontally along the ground but which are turned up at the ends. {{term, term= decurrent , content=
decurrent ''Decurrent'' (sometimes decurring) is a term used in botany and mycology to describe plant or fungal parts that extend downward. In botany, the term is most often applied to leaf blades that partly wrap or have wings around the stem or petio ...
{{defn, defn= Extending downward beyond the point of {{gli, point of insertion, insertion, e.g. when the base of a leaf or a fungal gill is prolonged downward along the {{gli, stem in a raised line or narrow wing. {{term, term= decussant {{defn, defn= A synonym of ''{{gli, decussate''; the usage ''decussant'' is questionable and occurs rarely, probably as an error. The formally correct usage is ''{{gli, decussate''. {{term, term= decussate , content={{vanchor,
decussate Decussation is used in biological contexts to describe a crossing (due to the shape of the Roman numeral for ten, an uppercase 'X' (), ). In Latin anatomical terms, the form is used, e.g. . Similarly, the anatomical term chiasma is named aft ...
{{defn, defn= {{gli, opposite, Opposite with successive pairs borne at right angles to the last; generally applied to the arrangement of leaves. {{term, term= definite {{defn, defn= Of a constant number, e.g. twice as many {{gli, stamens as {{gli, petals or {{gli, sepals (or less), or an {{gli, inflorescence ending in a {{gli, flower or an aborted floral {{gli, bud, typically a {{gli, cymose inflorescence. Contrast ''{{gli, indefinite''. {{term, term= deflexed {{defn, defn= Bent downward. Contrast ''{{gli, inflexed''. {{term, term= dehiscent , content=
dehiscent Dehiscence is the splitting of a mature plant structure along a built-in line of weakness to release its contents. This is common among fruits, anthers and sporangia. Sometimes this involves the complete detachment of a part; structures that op ...
{{defn, defn= Breaking open at maturity to release contents; refers e.g. to the opening of {{gli, fruit, fruits to release {{gli, seed, seeds, of {{gli, anthers to release {{gli, pollen, and of {{gli, sporangium, sporangia to release {{gli, spore, spores. Contrast ''{{gli, indehiscent''. {{term, term= deltoid , content= deltoid {{defn, defn= Shaped like the uppercase Greek letter Δ, i.e. like a more or less equilateral triangle. {{term, term= dendroid {{defn, defn= {{gli, tree, Tree-like; branching like a tree. {{term, term= dentate, content=
dentate Dentate may refer to: * A species having dentition * An energy-dissipating baffle block in a spillway * An individual not being edentulous * Dentate gyrus of the hippocampus * Dentate nucleus of the cerebellum * Denticity in chemistry * Dentat ...
{{defn, defn= {{gli, toothed, Toothed, especially in reference to {{gli, leaf {{gli, margins. {{term, term= denticulate , content=
denticulate Denticulate is an adjective referring to something having teeth-like structures. It may refer to: * Denticulate tool In archaeology, a denticulate tool is a stone tool containing one or more edges that are worked into multiple notched shapes (o ...
{{defn, defn= Finely {{gli, toothed; a diminutive form of {{gli, dentate. {{term, term= deserticolous, content= deserticolous {{defn, defn= Inhabiting a desert. {{term, term= determinate , content= determinate {{defn, defn= Limited, usually in growth. Contrast ''{{gli, indeterminate''. {{term, term= diadelphous, content= diadelphous {{defn, defn= Referring to a class of {{gli, adelphous structure in which the {{gli, stamens or similar organs are connected in two {{gli, adelphia, adelphiae instead of just one. {{term, term= diaspore , content=
diaspore Diaspore , also known as diasporite, empholite, kayserite, or tanatarite, is an aluminium oxide hydroxide mineral, α-AlO(OH), crystallizing in the orthorhombic system and isomorphous with goethite. It occurs sometimes as flattened crystals, bu ...
{{defn, defn= Any reproductive part of a plant adapted for dispersal and for establishing new plants; may be a disseminule such as a {{gli, seed, or other parts such as specialized {{gli, bud, buds, branches, inflorescences, or fruits. {{term, term= dichasium , content= dichasium {{defn, defn= A {{gli, cymose {{gli, inflorescence with all branches below the terminal flower in {{gli, regular opposite pairs. Compare ''{{gli, monochasium'' and ''{{gli, pleiochasium''. {{term, term= dichlamydeous {{defn, defn= Having a {{gli, perianth which is divided into a separate {{gli, calyx and {{gli, corolla. Compare ''{{gli, homochlamydeous''. {{term, term= dichotomous , content= dichotomous {{defn, defn= Forking into two equal branches. This may result from an equal division of the growing tip, or may be
sympodial Sympodial growth is a bifurcating branching pattern where one branch develops more strongly than the other, resulting in the stronger branches forming the primary shoot and the weaker branches appearing laterally. A sympodium, also referred to a ...
, in which the growing tip is aborted and replaced. Typically refers to mode of branch growth, as in ''
Aloidendron dichotomum ''Aloidendron dichotomum'', formerly ''Aloe dichotoma'', the quiver tree or kokerboom, is a tall, branching species of succulent plant, indigenous to Southern Africa, specifically in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, and parts of Sou ...
'', but also to other organs, such as the venation patterns on leaves, the thorns of various species of ''
Carissa ''Carissa'' is a genus of shrubs or small trees native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia and Asia. Until recently about 100 species were listed, but most of them have been relegated to the status of synonyms or assigned ...
'' (which morphologically are branches), and the {{gli, thallus, thalli or
hypha A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one or ...
e of various algae and fungi. {{term, term= dicotyledon , content=
dicotyledon The dicotyledons, also known as dicots (or, more rarely, dicotyls), are one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants (angiosperms) were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group: namely, t ...
{{defn, defn={{ghat, Also abbreviated dicot. A flowering plant whose embryo has two or more {{gli, cotyledon, cotyledons (seed leaves). Contrast ''{{gli, monocotyledon''. {{term, term= digitate , content=
digitate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
{{defn, defn= With segments spreading from a common center, like the fingers of a hand. See also ''{{gli, palmate'' and ''{{gli, palmatisect''. See also ''
Leaf shape The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
''. {{term, term= digitiform , content=
digitiform This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= Shaped like a finger. {{term, term= dimorphic {{defn, defn= Occurring in two different forms (with respect to shape and/or size), e.g. of {{gli, stamens,
fronds A frond is a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group. Other botanists allow the term frond to also apply to the lar ...
, or leaves. See also ''{{gli, monomorphic'' (having a single form) and '' polymorphic'' (having many forms). {{term, term= dioecious , content=
dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...
{{defn, defn= (of vascular plants) Having male and female reproductive structures which develop only on different individuals and never on the same individual. Contrast {{gli, monoecious. {{term, term= dioicous , content=
dioicous Dioicy () is a sexual system where archegonia and antheridia are produced on separate gametophytes. It is one of the two main sexual systems in bryophytes. Both dioicous () and monoicous gametophytes produce gametes in gametangia by mitosis rathe ...
{{defn, defn= (of a {{gli, bryophyte {{gli, gametophyte) Having male and female reproductive structures which develop only on different individuals and never on the same individual. Contrast ''{{gli, monoicous''. {{term, term= diploid , content=
diploid Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respectively ...
{{defn, defn= Having two complete sets of
chromosome A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells the most important of these proteins are ...
s in the nucleus of a {{gli, sporophyte cell, i.e. one set from each of the parental {{gli, gamete, gametes. This is often expressed symbolically as ''2n'', where ''n'' = the number of chromosomes in the {{gli, haploid gamete. {{term, term= diplostemonous , content= diplostemonous {{defn, defn= Having {{gli, stamens arranged in two {{gli, whorl, whorls, with the outer whorl alternating with the {{gli, petals while the inner whorl is opposite the petals. Compare ''{{gli, obdiplostemonous'' and ''{{gli, haplostemonous''. {{term, term= disc , content= disc {{defn, defn={{ghat, Also spelled disk. A plate or ring of structures derived from the {{gli, receptacle, and occurring between {{gli, whorl, whorls of floral parts. In some groups, especially
Sapindales Sapindales is an order of flowering plants. Well-known members of Sapindales include citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem. The APG III system of 2009 includes it ...
, the {{gli, nectary is in the form of a prominent disk. In daisies, the central part of the {{gli, capitulum is a disk, hence flowers borne there are called {{gli, disk floret, disk flowers or florets. {{term, term= discoid {{defn, defn= Resembling a disc or plate, having both thickness and parallel faces and with a rounded margin. Also used to describe the flower {{gli, capitulum, head of
Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...
where there are no ray florets but only disc florets. {{term, term= discolorous {{defn, defn= (of {{gli, leaf, leaves) Having upper and lower surfaces of different colors. {{term, term= disjunct , content= disjunct {{defn, defn= Occurring in widely separated geographic areas, distinctly separate; applies to a discontinuous range in which one or more populations are separated from other potentially interbreeding populations with sufficient distance so as to preclude gene flow between them. {{term, term= disk floret {{defn, defn= A {{gli, floret occurring most typically in the {{gli, disc, disk of the {{gli, capitulum of flowers in the family
Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...
, and to some extent in other plants that bear a flowering head with a disk, such as ''
Scabiosa ''Scabiosa'' is a genus in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) of flowering plants. Many of the species in this genus have common names that include the word scabious, but some plants commonly known as scabious are currently classified in r ...
''. {{term, term= dissected {{defn, defn= Deeply divided; cut into many segments. {{term, term= dissepiment {{defn, defn= A partition or
septum In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; plural septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate. Examples Human anatomy * Interatri ...
in a plant part, usually referring to septa between the {{gli, locule, loculi of {{gli, capsule, capsules or of other fruits with multiple partitions. {{term, term= distal , content=
distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...
{{defn, defn= Remote from the point of origin or attachment; the free end. Contrast ''{{gli, proximal''. {{term, term= distichous , content=
distichous In botany, phyllotaxis () or phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem. Phyllotactic spirals form a distinctive class of patterns in nature. Leaf arrangement The basic arrangements of leaves on a stem are opposite and alternat ...
{{defn, defn= Arranged in two opposite rows (and hence in the same plane). {{term, term= distinct {{defn, defn= Separate or free; not united. {{term, term= distyly , content=
distyly Distyly is a type of heterostyly in which a plant demonstrates reciprocal herkogamy. This breeding system is characterized by two separate flower morphs, where individual plants produce flowers that either have long styles and short stamens (L-morp ...
{{defn, defn= The condition in which the flowers of a species occur in two forms that differ only by the length of the {{gli, style and {{gli, stamens, and flowers of only one of these forms appear on any one plant. Compare ''{{gli, heterostyly''. {{term, term= diurnal , content= diurnal {{defn, defn= Of the day; occurring or opening in the daytime. {{term, term= divaricate , content=
divaricate Divaricate means branching, or having separation or a degree of separation. The angle between branches is wide. In botany In botany, the term is often used to describe the branching pattern of plants. Plants are said to be divaricating when the ...
{{defn, defn= Wide-spreading. {{term, term= divergent {{defn, defn= Spreading in different directions, generally upward. {{term, term= division , content=
division Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
{{defn, defn= A taxonomic rank below {{gli, kingdom in the standard taxonomic hierarchy. "Division" is generally used only for plants, and is the approximate botanical equivalent of the term {{gli, phylum, which is used for animals and other kingdoms. {{term, term= domatia , content=
domatia A domatium (plural: domatia, from the Latin "domus", meaning home) is a tiny chamber that houses arthropods, produced by a plant. Ideally domatia differ from galls in that they are produced by the plant rather than being induced by their inhabi ...
{{defn, defn={{ghat, ''sing.'' domatium Any hollow structure formed by a plant that is inhabited by animals such as ants or mites. {{term, term= dorsal , content=
dorsal Dorsal (from Latin ''dorsum'' ‘back’) may refer to: * Dorsal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location referring to the back or upper side of an organism or parts of an organism * Dorsal, positioned on top of an aircraft's fuselage * Dorsal c ...
{{defn, defn= From Latin ''dorsum'', a ridge or the back of an animal. Partly because the term originally referred to animals rather than plants, usage in botany is arbitrary according to context and source. In
general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
"dorsal" refers to "the rear or back or upper surface", but in
botanical Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...
usage such concepts are not always clearly defined and may be contradictory. For example:
* facing away from the axis ({{gli, abaxial) in a lateral organ of an erect plant * facing away from the substrate in any part of an erect plant, for example the upper surface of a more or less horizontal leaf ({{gli, adaxial) or the upper part of the crown of the plant * facing away from the substrate in a {{gli, prostrate or climbing plant or floating leaves such as those of
Nymphaea ''Nymphaea'' () is a genus of hardy and tender aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants, and many cultivars have been bred. Some taxa occur as introduc ...
. Derived or related terms include dorsad, "toward the dorsal", and dorsum, "the dorsal part of the organ or organism as a unit". Related
anatomical terms of location Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...
include {{gli, ventral, {{gli, lateral. {{term, term= dorsifixed {{defn, defn= Attached at or by the back, e.g. {{gli, anthers on a {{gli, filament. {{term, term= dorsiventral , content=
dorsiventral A dorsiventral (Lat. ''dorsum'', "the back", ''venter'', "the belly") organ is one that has two surfaces differing from each other in appearance and structure, as an ordinary leaf. This term has also been used as a synonym for dorsoventral organs, ...
{{defn, defn= Having structurally and visibly different upper and lower surfaces, e.g. some leaves. Compare ''{{gli, bilateral'' and '' isobilateral''. {{term, term= drip tip {{defn, defn= A long, narrow, {{gli, acuminate, {{gli, caudate, or {{gli, cuspidate extension at the tip of a {{gli, leaf or {{gli, leaflet. Commonly an adaptation to rainy conditions, as it promotes shedding of water by its dripping from the narrow tip. The term ''drip tip'' is not anatomically descriptive in the way that ''acuminate'' or ''cuspidate'' are, for example; rather, it is a description of the functional shape that aids dripping, regardless of the specific geometry of the shape itself. {{term, term= drupe , content=
drupe In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is an indehiscent fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pit'', ''stone'', or '' pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed (''kernel'') ...
{{defn, defn= A type of {{gli, succulent {{gli, fruit formed from one {{gli, carpel; the single {{gli, seed is enclosed by a stony layer of the fruit wall, e.g. in peaches and olives. Also called a ''{{gli, kernel''. {{term, term= drupelet , content=
drupe In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is an indehiscent fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pit'', ''stone'', or '' pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed (''kernel'') ...
let {{defn, defn= A small {{gli, drupe formed from one of the carpels in an {{gli, apocarpous flower. Drupelets usually form a {{gli, compound fruit, as in ''
Rubus ''Rubus'' is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae, with over 1,350 species. Raspberries, blackberries, and dewberries are common, widely distributed members of the genus. Most of these ...
'', but they may become widely separated, as in ''
Ochna ''Ochna''Linnaeus C (1753) ''Sp. Pl.'' 1: 513. is a genus comprising 86 species of evergreen trees, shrubs and shrublets belonging to the flowering plant family ''Ochnaceae''. These species are native to tropical woodlands of Africa, the Mascare ...
''. {{term, term= druse , content= druse {{defn, defn= A globular mass of
calcium oxalate Calcium oxalate (in archaic terminology, oxalate of lime) is a calcium salt of oxalic acid with the chemical formula . It forms hydrates , where ''n'' varies from 1 to 3. Anhydrous and all hydrated forms are colorless or white. The monohydrate ...
crystals, usually with the crystals radiating from an organic core. {{glossary end {{Compact ToC , side=yes }


E

{{glossary {{term, term= -eae , content= {{linktext, -eae {{defn, defn= A suffix added to the stem of a {{gli, generic name to form the name of a {{gli, tribe, e.g. ''
Aster Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...
'' →
Astereae Astereae is a tribe of plants in the family Asteraceae that includes annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, shrubs, and trees. They are found primarily in temperate regions of the world. Plants within the tribe are present nearly worldwide di ...
. {{term, term= ebracteate , content= ebracteate {{defn, defn= Lacking {{gli, bracts;
synonymous A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
with ''ebracteolate''. {{term, term= ecological amplitude , content= ecological amplitude {{defn, defn= The range of environmental conditions in which an organism can survive. {{term, term= edaphic , content=
edaphic Edaphology (from Greek , ''edaphos'', "ground",, ''-logia'') is concerned with the influence of soils on living beings, particularly plants. It is one of two main divisions of soil science, the other being pedology. Edaphology includes the study ...
{{defn, defn= Of or influenced by the soil. {{term, term= elaiosome , content=
elaiosome Elaiosomes ( grc, ἔλαιον ''élaion'' "oil" + ''sóma'' "body") are fleshy structures that are attached to the seeds of many plant species. The elaiosome is rich in lipids and proteins, and may be variously shaped. Many plants have elaio ...
{{defn, defn= An external structure attached to the {{gli, seed of many species of plants. Elaiosomes generally look fleshy and in some species they are rich in oils or other nutritious materials. Their functions vary and are not always obvious; commonly they attract ants or other animals that aid in dispersal, but they may also repel other animals from eating the seed.{{Sfn, Hanzawa, Beattie, Holmes, 1985 {{term, term= elephophily , content= elephophily {{defn, defn= A form of {{gli, pollination whereby {{gli, pollen or {{gli, spore, spores are distributed by the feet of elephants, as in ''
Rafflesia arnoldii ''Rafflesia arnoldii'', the corpse flower or giant padma, is a species of flowering plant in the parasitic genus ''Rafflesia''. It is noted for producing the largest individual flower on Earth. It has a strong and unpleasant odor of decaying f ...
''. {{term, term= ellipsoid , content=
ellipsoid An ellipsoid is a surface that may be obtained from a sphere by deforming it by means of directional scalings, or more generally, of an affine transformation. An ellipsoid is a quadric surface;  that is, a surface that may be defined as the ...
{{defn, defn= A three-dimensional shape that is {{gli, elliptical in all sections through the long axis. {{term, term= elliptical , content=
elliptical Elliptical may mean: * having the shape of an ellipse, or more broadly, any oval shape ** in botany, having an elliptic leaf shape ** of aircraft wings, having an elliptical planform * characterised by ellipsis (the omission of words), or by conc ...
{{defn, defn={{ghat, Also elliptic. Planar, shaped like a flattened circle, symmetrical about both the long and the short axis, tapering equally both to the tip and the base; {{gli, oval. {{term, term= emarginate , content=
emarginate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
{{defn, defn= Typically in reference to leaf margins: notched or recessed at some part of the edge, such as the {{gli, apex; the recess usually is broad and shallow. The location of a leaf's emargination(s) might be one or more of apical, lateral or basal {{term, term= embryo , content=
embryo An embryo is an initial stage of development of a multicellular organism. In organisms that reproduce sexually, embryonic development is the part of the life cycle that begins just after fertilization of the female egg cell by the male spe ...
{{defn, defn= The young plant contained by a {{gli, seed prior to {{gli, germination. {{term, term= emergent , content= emergent {{defn, defn= A plant taller than the surrounding vegetation or, among aquatic plant species, one that bears {{gli, flowers and commonly {{gli, leaf, leaves above the surface of the water. Aquatic examples include water lilies, reeds, and
papyrus Papyrus ( ) is a material similar to thick paper that was used in ancient times as a writing surface. It was made from the pith of the papyrus plant, '' Cyperus papyrus'', a wetland sedge. ''Papyrus'' (plural: ''papyri'') can also refer to a ...
. Some pondweeds such as '' Stuckenia'' are not emergent until they flower, at which time only their flowers appear above the water surface. {{term, term= enation , content=
enation Enations are scaly leaflike structures, differing from leaves in their lack of vascular tissue. They are created by some leaf diseases and occur normally on ''Psilotum''. Enations are also found on some early plants such as ''Rhynia'', where the ...
{{defn, defn= Leaf-like outgrowth from a surface.{{sfn, Pell, Angell, 2016, p=78 {{term, term= enantiostyly , content= enantiostyly {{defn, defn= The condition in which the {{gli, gynoecium protrudes laterally, to the right ({{gli, dextrostyly) or to the left ({{gli, sinistrostyly) of the {{gli, androecium, e.g. '' Senna''. {{term, term= endemic , content=
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
{{defn, defn= Having a natural distribution restricted to a particular geographic region. Compare ''{{gli, native''. {{term, term= endocarp , content=
endocarp Fruit anatomy is the plant anatomy of the internal structure of fruit. Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. They are found in three main anatomical categories: aggregate fruits, multiple fruits, and simple fruits. Agg ...
{{defn, defn= The innermost layer of the wall of a fruit; in a {{gli, drupe, the stony layer surrounding the seed. {{term, term= endodermis , content=
endodermis The endodermis is the central, innermost layer of cortex in land plants. It is a cylinder of compact living cells, the radial walls of which are impregnated with hydrophobic substances (Casparian strip) to restrict apoplastic flow of water to th ...
{{defn, defn= The innermost layer of the {{gli, cortex of
vascular plant Vascular plants (), also called tracheophytes () or collectively Tracheophyta (), form a large group of land plants ( accepted known species) that have lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They al ...
{{gli, root, roots, also present in the stems of
pteridophyte A pteridophyte is a vascular plant (with xylem and phloem) that disperses spores. Because pteridophytes produce neither flowers nor seeds, they are sometimes referred to as "cryptogams", meaning that their means of reproduction is hidden. Ferns, ...
s. The radial walls are impregnated with
suberin Suberin, cutin and lignins are complex, higher plant epidermis and periderm cell-wall macromolecules, forming a protective barrier. Suberin, a complex polyester biopolymer, is lipophilic, and composed of long chain fatty acids called suberin aci ...
to form a permeability barrier known as the
Casparian strip The Casparian strip is a band-like thickening in the center of the root endodermis (radial and tangential walls of endodermal cells) of vascular plants (Pteridophytes and Spermatophytes). The composition of the region is mainly suberin, lignin and ...
. {{term, term= endosperm , content=
endosperm The endosperm is a tissue produced inside the seeds of most of the flowering plants following double fertilization. It is triploid (meaning three chromosome sets per nucleus) in most species, which may be auxin-driven. It surrounds the embryo and ...
{{defn, no=1, ({{gli, angiosperm, angiosperms) A nutritive tissue surrounding the {{gli, embryo of the {{gli, seed, usually
triploid Polyploidy is a condition in which the cells of an organism have more than one pair of ( homologous) chromosomes. Most species whose cells have nuclei ( eukaryotes) are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, where each set contain ...
, originating from the fusion of both
polar nuclei Double fertilization is a complex fertilization mechanism of flowering plants (angiosperms). This process involves the joining of a female gametophyte (megagametophyte, also called the embryo sac) with two male gametes (sperm). It begins when a ...
with one
gamete A gamete (; , ultimately ) is a haploid cell that fuses with another haploid cell during fertilization in organisms that reproduce sexually. Gametes are an organism's reproductive cells, also referred to as sex cells. In species that produce t ...
after the fertilization of the egg. {{defn, no=2, ({{gli, gymnosperm, gymnosperms) The {{gli, prothallus within the
embryo sac In seed plants, the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: the ''integument'', forming its outer layer, the ''nucellus'' (or remnant of the megasporangium), and the fe ...
. {{term, term= endospory {{defn, defn= The production of {{gli, spore, spores that germinate into a reduced multicellular
gametophyte A gametophyte () is one of the two alternation of generations, alternating multicellular organism, multicellular phases in the life cycles of plants and algae. It is a haploid multicellular organism that develops from a haploid spore that has on ...
contained within the spore wall. Contrast ''{{gli, exospory''. {{term, term= ensiform , content= ensiform {{defn, defn= Shaped like the blade of a sword. {{term, term= entire , content=
entire Entire may refer to: * Entire function, a function that is holomorphic on the whole complex plane * Entire (animal), an indication that an animal is not neutered * Entire (botany) This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of ...
{{defn, no=1, Not divided. {{defn, no=2, (of a {{gli, margin) Smooth and not {{gli, lobed or {{gli, toothed (though possibly wavy or {{gli, scalloped). {{term, term= entomophily , content=
entomophily Entomophily or insect pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen of plants, especially but not only of flowering plants, is distributed by insects. Flowers pollinated by insects typically advertise themselves with bright colours, some ...
{{defn, defn= A form of {{gli, pollination whereby {{gli, pollen or {{gli, spore, spores are distributed by
insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...
s. {{term, term= epecophyte , content= epecophyte {{defn, defn= Species of recent appearance, usually numerous and constant in the country, but confined to artificial habitats, such as meadows and
ruderal A ruderal species is a plant species that is first to colonize disturbed lands. The disturbance may be natural for example, wildfires or avalanchesor the consequences of human activities, such as construction ( of roads, of buildings, mining, et ...
vegetation and are dependent on humans for existence.{{Sfn, Schulze, Zwölfer, 2012, p=261 {{term, term= ephemeral , content=
ephemeral Ephemerality (from the Greek word , meaning 'lasting only one day') is the concept of things being transitory, existing only briefly. Academically, the term ephemeral constitutionally describes a diverse assortment of things and experiences, fr ...
{{defn, defn= Short-lived. See also ''{{gli, caducous''. {{term, term= epicalyx , content=
epicalyx This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= An {{gli, involucre resembling an outer {{gli, calyx, e.g. as in ''
Hibiscus ''Hibiscus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. Member species ...
''. {{term, term= epicarp , content=
epicarp Fruit anatomy is the plant anatomy of the internal structure of fruit. Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. They are found in three main anatomical categories: aggregate fruits, multiple fruits, and simple fruits. Aggr ...
{{defn, defn= The outer layer of the wall of a {{gli, fruit, i.e. the "skin". {{term, term= epicormic , content= epicormic {{defn, defn= Used to refer to {{gli, bud, buds, {{gli, shoot, shoots, or {{gli, flowers developing from the old wood of trees, especially after injury or fire. {{term, term= epicotyl , content=
epicotyl An epicotyl is important for the beginning stages of a plant's life. It is the region of a seedling stem above the stalks of the seed leaves of an embryo plant. It grows rapidly, showing hypogeal germination, and extends the stem above the soil surf ...
{{defn, defn= The part of the plant axis or stem between the {{gli, cotyledon, cotyledonary node and the first foliage leaves. {{term, term= epicuticular wax , content=
epicuticular wax Epicuticular wax is a coating of wax covering the outer surface of the plant cuticle in land plants. It may form a whitish film or bloom on leaves, fruits and other plant organs. Chemically, it consists of hydrophobic organic compounds, mainly str ...
{{defn, defn= A layer of crystalline or amorphous
wax Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to giv ...
deposited on the surface of the {{gli, cuticle. {{term, term= epidermis , content=
epidermis The epidermis is the outermost of the three layers that comprise the skin, the inner layers being the dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis layer provides a barrier to infection from environmental pathogens and regulates the amount of water rele ...
{{defn, defn= An organ's outermost layer of cells, usually only one cell thick. {{term, term= epigynous , content=
epigynous In the flowering plants, an ovary is a part of the female reproductive organ of the flower or gynoecium. Specifically, it is the part of the pistil which holds the ovule(s) and is located above or below or at the point of connection with the bas ...
{{defn, defn= Borne on the {{gli, ovary; describes floral parts when attached above the level of the ovary and arising from tissue fused to the ovary wall. Compare ''{{gli, hypogynous'' and ''{{gli, perigynous''. {{term, term= epilithic , content=
epilithic Lithophytes are plants that grow in or on rocks. They can be classified as either epilithic (or epipetric) or endolithic; epilithic lithophytes grow on the surfaces of rocks, while endolithic lithophytes grow in the crevices of rocks (and are also ...
{{defn, defn= Growing on stone. Compare ''{{gli, lithophytic'', a plant growing on stone. {{term, term= epipetalous , content= epipetalous {{defn, defn= Of {{gli, stamens that are attached to the {{gli, petals. {{term, term= epipetric , content= epipetric {{defn, defn= Growing on rock or stone, {{gli, lithophytic, {{gli, epilithic. {{term, term= epiphloedal , content= epiphloedal {{defn, defn= Growing on the surface of {{gli, bark. Contrast ''{{gli, endophloedal'' (growing inside, not on, the bark) and ''{{gli, epilithic'' (growing on rock, not bark). {{term, term= epiphyte , content=
epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
{{defn, defn= A plant, alga or fungus that grows on another plant without deriving nourishment from it but using it for support. {{term, term= epiphytic , content=
epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
{{defn, defn= Of an {{gli, epiphyte; living on the surface of a plant. Compare ''{{gli, epilithic'', ''{{gli, lithophytic''. {{term, term= episepalous , content= episepalous {{defn, defn= Of {{gli, stamens that are attached to the {{gli, sepals. {{term, term= epitepalous , content= epitepalous {{defn, defn= Of {{gli, stamens that are attached to the {{gli, tepal, tepals. {{term, term= epithet , content=
epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...
{{defn, defn= The adjectival component in a binomial scientific name, usually more specifically called a {{gli, specific epithet; the final word or combination of words in a name of more than one word (other than a term denoting rank) that denominates an individual taxon. The simplest and commonest example is the second word in a two-word name of a species, such as "''mirabilis''" in ''
Welwitschia mirabilis ''Welwitschia'' is a monotypic gymnosperm genus, comprising solely the distinctive ''Welwitschia mirabilis'', endemic to the Namib desert within Namibia and Angola. ''Welwitschia'' is the only living genus of the family Welwitschiaceae and ord ...
''. {{term, term= epizoochory {{defn, defn= A type of {{gli, seed dispersal that occurs when seeds or {{gli, fruit, fruits physically adhere to the outside of vertebrate animal bodies. {{term, term= epruinose , content= epruinose {{defn, defn= Not {{gli, pruinose. {{term, term= equitant , content= equitant {{defn, defn= (of a {{gli, leaf) Folded lengthwise and clasping another leaf. {{term, term= erect {{defn, defn= Upright, more or less perpendicular to the ground or point of attachment. Compare ''{{gli, patent'' (spreading) and ''{{gli, erecto-patent'', between erect and patent. {{term, term= ericoid , content= ericoid {{defn, defn= Having leaves like those of the European heaths (''
Erica Erica or ERICA may refer to: * Erica (given name) * ''Erica'' (plant), a flowering plant genus * Erica (chatbot), a service of Bank of America * ''Erica'' (video game), a 2019 FMV video game * ''Erica'' (spider), a jumping spider genus * Eric ...
''); small and sharply pointed. {{term, term= erose , content= erose {{defn, defn= (of a {{gli, margin) Irregular as though nibbled or worn away. {{term, term= ethelochoric {{defn, defn= Deliberate introduction by seedlings, seeds or plants in a new habitat by humans. {{term, term= etiolation , content=
etiolation Etiolation is a process in flowering plants grown in partial or complete absence of light. It is characterized by long, weak stems; smaller leaves due to longer internodes; and a pale yellow color (chlorosis). The development of seedlings in t ...
{{defn, defn= Weak growth due to lack of light, resulting in elongated stems and yellowish color.{{sfn, Pell, Angell, 2016, p=83 {{term, term= even-pinnate {{defn, defn= Having an even number of {{gli, leaflets in a {{gli, compound leaf;
synonymous A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
with ''{{gli, paripinnate''. {{term, term= evergreen , content=
evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
{{defn, defn= Not {{gli, deciduous; having leaves all year. {{term, term= ex {{defn, defn= In nomenclature, indicating that the preceding author proposed the name but did not legitimately publish it, and that the succeeding author referred to the first author when legitimately publishing the name. See
Author citation (botany) In botanical nomenclature, author citation is the way of citing the person or group of people who validly published a botanical name, i.e. who first published the name while fulfilling the formal requirements as specified by the '' International C ...
. {{term, term= exalbuminous {{defn, defn= In seeds of a given species, having no {{gli, endosperm, i.e. no {{gli, albumen, e.g. in
Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...
and
Combretaceae The Combretaceae, often called the white mangrove family, are a family of flowering plants in the order Myrtales. The family includes about 530 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas in ca 10 genera. The family includes the leadwood tree, ''Combre ...
. {{term, term= exocarp , content=
exocarp Fruit anatomy is the plant anatomy of the internal structure of fruit. Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. They are found in three main anatomical categories: aggregate fruits, multiple fruits, and simple fruits. Aggr ...
{{defn, defn= The outer layer of the {{gli, pericarp, often the skin of fleshy {{gli, fruit, fruits. {{term, term= exospory {{defn, defn= The production of {{gli, spore, spores that germinate into free-living multicellular
gametophyte A gametophyte () is one of the two alternation of generations, alternating multicellular organism, multicellular phases in the life cycles of plants and algae. It is a haploid multicellular organism that develops from a haploid spore that has on ...
s. Contrast ''{{gli, endospory''. {{term, term= exotesta , content= exotesta {{defn, defn= The outer layer of the {{gli, testa (seed coat). It is derived from the outer {{gli, integument of the {{gli, ovule. {{term, term= exotic , content=
exotic Exotic may refer to: Mathematics and physics * Exotic R4, a differentiable 4-manifold, homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to the Euclidean space R4 * Exotic sphere, a differentiable ''n''-manifold, homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to the ordina ...
{{defn, defn= Not native; introduced from another region or country. {{term, term= exserted , content=
exserted This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
{{defn, defn= Projected beyond, e.g. {{gli, stamens beyond the {{gli, corolla tube. {{term, term= exstipulate , content=
exstipulate In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...
{{defn, defn= Lacking {{gli, stipule, stipules. {{term, term= extrastaminal , content= extrastaminal {{defn, defn= Outside the {{gli, stamens or {{gli, androecium, usually referring to the location of a nectary disk. {{term, term= extrorse , content=
extrorse Dehiscence is the splitting of a mature plant structure along a built-in line of weakness to release its contents. This is common among fruits, anthers and sporangia. Sometimes this involves the complete detachment of a part; structures that o ...
{{defn, defn= (of {{gli, anther {{gli, locule, locules) Opening toward the outside of the {{gli, flower. Contrast ''{{gli, introrse'' and ''{{gli, latrorse''. {{glossary end {{Compact ToC , side=yes }


F

{{glossary {{term, term= F1 hybrid , content=
F1 hybrid An F1 hybrid (also known as filial 1 hybrid) is the first filial generation of offspring of distinctly different parental types. F1 hybrids are used in genetics, and in selective breeding, where the term F1 crossbreed may be used. The term is somet ...
{{defn, defn= A single {{gli, cross; a plant breeding term for the result of a repeatable cross between two pure bred lines. {{term, term= F2 hybrid , content=
F2 hybrid An F1 hybrid (also known as filial 1 hybrid) is the first filial generation of offspring of distinctly different parental types. F1 hybrids are used in genetics, and in selective breeding, where the term F1 crossbreed may be used. The term is somet ...
{{defn, defn= A plant breeding term for the result of a plant arising from a {{gli, cross between two {{gli, F1 hybrids; may also refer to {{gli, self-pollination in a population of F1 hybrids. {{term, term= fabiform , content= fabiform {{defn, defn= Shaped like a
kidney bean The kidney bean is a variety of the common bean (''Phaseolus vulgaris''). It resembles a human kidney and thus is named after such. Red kidney beans should not be confused with other red beans, such as adzuki beans. Classification There are d ...
. {{term, term= facultative , content=
facultative {{wiktionary, facultative Facultative means "optional" or "discretionary" (antonym '' obligate''), used mainly in biology in phrases such as: * Facultative (FAC), facultative wetland (FACW), or facultative upland (FACU): wetland indicator statuses ...
{{defn, defn= Able to perform a particular life function, or to live generally, in more than one way. Compare ''{{gli, obligate''. {{term, term= falcate , content=
falcate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...
{{defn, defn= Curved like the blade of a
scythe A scythe ( ) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or harvesting crops. It is historically used to cut down or reap edible grains, before the process of threshing. The scythe has been largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor m ...
. {{term, term= family , content=
family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
{{defn, defn= A taxonomic group of one or more {{gli, genus, genera with features, ancestry, or both in common. It is the term for the principal rank between {{gli, order and genus. {{term, term= farina {{defn, defn= Powdery, pale yellow, crystalline secretion consisting of
flavonoids Flavonoids (or bioflavonoids; from the Latin word ''flavus'', meaning yellow, their color in nature) are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Chemically, flavonoids ...
in ''
Primula ''Primula'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose ('' P. vulgaris''), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are '' P. auricula'' (auricula), '' P. veris'' (cow ...
'' and other species. {{term, term= farinaceous , content=
farinaceous Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures. ...
{{defn, defn= Powderiness that is mealy. {{term, term= fascicle , content=
fascicle Fascicle or ''fasciculus'' may refer to: Anatomy and histology * Muscle fascicle, a bundle of skeletal muscle fibers * Nerve fascicle, a bundle of axons (nerve fibers) ** Superior longitudinal fasciculus *** Arcuate fasciculus ** Gracile fas ...
{{defn, defn= {{ghat, ''adj.'' {{gli, fasciculate A cluster of flowers, leaves, needles,
vascular tissue Vascular tissue is a complex conducting tissue, formed of more than one cell type, found in vascular plants. The primary components of vascular tissue are the xylem and phloem. These two tissues transport fluid and nutrients internally. There ...
, etc., e.g. a tuft of leaves all arising from the same node. {{term, term= fasciculate , content= fasciculate {{defn, defn= Branching in clusters, e.g. a bundle of sticks or needles; having {{gli, fascicle, fascicles. {{term, term= faucal , content= faucal {{defn, defn= Pertaining to the {{gli, fauces; located in the throat of a {{gli, calyx or {{gli, corolla. {{term, term= fauces , content= fauces {{defn, defn= The throat of a {{gli, calyx or {{gli, corolla; the conspicuously widened portion between the mouth and the {{gli, apex of the tube. In
Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The APG IV system from 2016 classifies the Boraginaceae as single family of the order ...
, the site of distinctive appendages. {{term, term= faveolate , content= faveolate {{defn, defn= Honeycombed; having regular, angled {{gli, pits. Compare ''{{gli, foveolate''. {{term, term= felted , content=
felted A felted material is a hairy or filamentous (hairy-like) fibre that is densely packed or tangled, forming felt or felt-like structures. Anatomy and zoology The dermis is described in Gray's Anatomy as "felted connective tissue, with a varyi ...
{{defn, defn= Covered with very dense, interlocked, and matted hairs with the appearance or texture of felt or woolen cloth. {{term, term= female flower {{defn, defn= See ''{{gli, pistillate flower''. {{term, term= fenestrate , content=
fenestrate Fenestration may refer to: * Fenestration (architecture), the design, construction, or presence of openings in a building * Used in relation to fenestra in anatomy, medicine and biology * Fenestration, holes in the rudder of a ship to reduce the w ...
{{defn, defn= Having
translucent In the field of optics, transparency (also called pellucidity or diaphaneity) is the physical property of allowing light to pass through the material without appreciable scattering of light. On a macroscopic scale (one in which the dimensions a ...
or transparent areas that let light through; this variously affects the behavior of animal visitors or permits photosynthesis in many arid-region plants that grow only to the soil surface. Also refers loosely to perforations, for which ''{{gli, perforate'' is the more precise term. {{term, term= ferruginous {{defn, defn= Ruddy or
rust Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH ...
-colored. {{term, term= fertile , content=
fertile Fertility is the capability to produce offspring through reproduction following the onset of sexual maturity. The fertility rate is the average number of children born by a female during her lifetime and is quantified demographically. Fertilit ...
{{defn, defn= Capable of producing fruit; of flowers when they produce seed, or of anthers containing pollen. {{term, term= fertilization , content=
fertilization Fertilisation or fertilization (see spelling differences), also known as generative fertilisation, syngamy and impregnation, is the fusion of gametes to give rise to a new individual organism or offspring and initiate its development. Proce ...
{{defn, defn= The union of male and female {{gli, gamete, gametes during sexual reproduction. {{term, term= fiber , content=
fiber Fiber or fibre (from la, fibra, links=no) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often incorporate ...
{{defn, no=1, defn= A fiber cell. {{defn, no=2, defn= Any flexible, strong, stringy, and very elongate structure. {{term, term= fiber cell , content= fiber cell {{defn, defn= A type of cell that is found in
sclerenchyma The ground tissue of plants includes all tissues that are neither Epidermis (botany), dermal nor Vascular tissue, vascular. It can be divided into three types based on the nature of the cell walls. # Parenchyma cells have thin primary walls and ...
; it is much elongated, and dies soon after an extensive modification of its
cell wall A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding some types of cells, just outside the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. It provides the cell with both structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mech ...
. The cell wall is usually thickly
lignified Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants. Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidity ...
but is sometimes
gelatinous Gelatin or gelatine (from la, gelatus meaning "stiff" or "frozen") is a translucent, colorless, flavorless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is brittle when dry and rubbery when moist. It may also ...
. {{term, term= filament {{defn, no=1, defn= The stalk of a {{gli, stamen. {{defn, no=2, defn= Any very narrow, thread-like structure that is one or a few cells thick. {{term, term= filamentous {{defn, defn= Consisting of {{gli, filaments or {{gli, fibers; hairlike. {{term, term= filiform , content={{vanchor,
filiform Filiform, thread or filament like, can refer to: * Filiform, a common term used in botany to describe a thread-like shape *Filiform, or filiform catheter In medicine, a catheter (/ˈkæθətər/) is a thin tubing (material), tube made from m ...
{{defn, defn= Thread-like, e.g. {{gli, stamen {{gli, filaments or
leaf shape The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...
s. {{term, term= fimbria {{defn, defn= {{ghat, ''pl.'' fimbriae Slender, hair-like projection; fringe. {{term, term= fimbriate , content={{vanchor, fimbriate {{defn, defn= Fringed, e.g. where the ends of a petal are split into two or more divisions. Having {{gli, fimbriae. {{term, term= fissure , content= fissure {{defn, defn= A split or crack, often referring to fissured bark; a line or opening of dehiscence. {{term, term= fistule , content= fistule {{defn, defn= A tube-shaped cavity. {{term, term= fistulose , content= fistulose {{defn, defn= Hollow; usually applied to a tube-shaped cavity, as in a
reed Reed or Reeds may refer to: Science, technology, biology, and medicine * Reed bird (disambiguation) * Reed pen, writing implement in use since ancient times * Reed (plant), one of several tall, grass-like wetland plants of the order Poales * ...
. {{term, term= flabellate , content= flabellate {{defn, defn= Fan-shaped, e.g. a flabellate (fan-shaped) leaf. {{term, term= flaccid {{defn, defn= Limp; tending to wilt. Compare ''{{gli, turgid''. {{term, term= flexistyly {{defn, defn= Depending on the degree of maturation of the {{gli, stamens, the {{gli, style moves up or down (cataflexistyle or (ana-)hyperflexisyle). {{term, term= flexuous , content=
flexuous {{Short pages monitor Lists of plants, Plant morphology, Botanical Terms