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Abaxial. Away from the axis; the
lower surface of the leaf; dorsal
Abcissent. Falling off or separating at a specific
separation (abcission) layer, as in most deciduous plants
Acarpous. No carpels or carpellate whorl; no pistil
Accessory Bud. Buds lateral to or above axillary buds; Accessory
Organs - The calyx and corolla
Accrescent. Growing after flowering or bud development
has occurred, as the sepals in Hypericum and bud scales in Carya
Accumbent or Pleurorhizal. Reclinate with cotyledon
edges against hypocotyl
Acerose. Needle-shaped; sharp
Achene. A one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with
seed attached to fruit wall at one point only, derived from
a one-loculed superior ovary
Achenecetum. An aggregation of achenes, as in
Ranunculus
Achlamydeous. Without perianth
Acicular. Needlelike, round or grooved in cross
section
Aciculate . Finely marked as with pin pricks,
fine lines usually randomly arranged
Acrocaulous. With terminal branches
Acrocidal Capsule. One that dehisces through terminal
slits, or fissures, as in Staphylea
Acrodromous. With two or more primary or strongly
developed secondary veins diverging at or above the base of
the blade and running in convergent arches toward the apex over
some or all of the blade length, the arches not basally curved
Acropetal. Developing upward, toward apex
Acroramous. Leaves terminal, near apex of branch
Acroscopic. Facing apically
Actinodromous. With three or more primary veins
diverging radially from a single point at or above the base
of the blade and running toward the margin, reaching it or not
Actinomorphic or Radial. With floral parts radiate
from center like spokes on wheel
Actinostele. A protostele having a xylem core
in the form of radiating ribs, as viewed in transverse section
Aculeate. Prickly
Acuminate (Base narrowly cuneate). Margins straight
to convex forming a terminal angle of less than 45
Acute (Base cuneate). Margins straight to convex
forming a terminal angle 45-90
Adaxial. Next to the axis; facing the stem; ventral
Adherent. With unlike parts of organs joined, but only
superficially and without actual histological continuity
Adnate. With unlike parts or organs integrally
fused to one another with histological continuity
Adventitious. Arising from organ other than root;
usually lateral
Aerating
or Knee. Vertical or horizontal aboveground
roots
Aerial
or Epigeous. Above the ground or water, in the
air; aerial stem - an erect stem arising from a horizontal rhizome
Aerocaulous. With aerial stems
Aerophyllous. With aerial leaves
Aestival. Appearing in summer
Agamandrous. Inflorescence with neuter flowers
inside or above and staminate outside or below (agamandrocephalous)
Agamogynous. Inflorescence with neuter flowers
inside or above and pistillate outside or below (agamogynecephalous)
Agamohermaphroditic. Inflorescence with neuter
flowers inside or above and hermaphroditic outside or below
(agamohermaphrodicephalous)
Agamous
or Neuter. Without sex; sexual organs abortive
Agglomerate, Conglomerate, Crowded, or Aggregate.
Dense structures with varied angles of divergence
Aianthous or Semperflorous. With flowers appearing
throughout the year
Alate. Winged
Allagostemonous. Having stamens attached to petal
and torus alternately
Allautogamy. Cross- and self-fertilization in
same plant, as in Viola
Allogamy
or Xenogamy. Cross-fertilization in plants
Allopatric. Isolated, separated
Alternate. One leaf or other structure per node
Alveolate. Honey-combed
Ament
or Catkin. A unisexual spike or elongate axis
with simple dichasia that falls as a unit after flowering or
fruiting
Amorphic
or Paleomorphic. Flowers without symmetry; usually
with an indefinite number of stamens and carpels, and usually
subtended by bracts or discolored upper leaves; e.g., Salix
discolor, Echinops ritro (mostly fossil forms)
Amphicarpous. With fruits in two environments;
e.g., aerial and subterranean
Amphiflorous. Flowers above and below ground,
as in Amphicarpum
Amphisarca. A berry-like succulent fruit with
a crustaceous or woody rind, as in Lagenaria
Amphitropous. With body bent or curved on both
sides so that the micropyle is near the medially attached funiculus
Amplexicaul. Completely clasping the stem
Ampliate. Enlarged; dilated
Anadromous. Having the first lobe or segment of
a pinna arising basiscopically in compound leaves
Anatropous. With body completely inverted so that
funiculus is attached basally near adjoining micropyle area
Ancipital. Two-edged
Andragamous. Inflorescence with staminate flowers
inside or above and neuter flowers outside or below (andragamocephalous)
Androdioecious. Some plants with staminate flowers
and some with perfect flowers
Androecium. One or more whorls or groups of stamens;
all stamens in flower
Androgynecandrous. Inflorescence with staminate
flowers above and below pistillate, as in the spikes of some
species of Carex
Androgynophore. The stipe or column on which stamens
and carpels are borne
Androgynous. Inflorescence with staminate flowers
inside or above and pistillate outside or below (androgynecephalous)
Androhermaphroditic. Inflorescence with staminate
flowers inside or above and hermaphroditic outside or below
(androhermaphrodicephalous)
Andromonoecious. Plant with staminate and perfect
flowers
Anemophily. Pollinated by wind
Angustate. Narrow
Anisocarpous. With unequal carpels
Anisocotylous. With unequal cotyledons
Anisolateral. With unequal sides
Anisopetalous. With unequal petals
Anisophyllous. With unequal leaves
Anisostylous. With unequal styles
Annotinal or Yearly. Appearing yearly
Annual. Living one year or less. Winter Annual
- Living less than one year but through the winter; germination
usually in late fall, and usually flowering and fruiting in
early spring
Annular. Ring-like
Annulus. Thick-walled ring of cells on the sporangium
Anomalicidal or Rupturing Capsule. One that dehisces
irregularly, as in Ammannia
Anterior. Anterior Lobes - The lobes away from
axis, toward the subtending bract, abaxial lobes; Anterior Ridges,
Lines, Grooves - The lines, grooves, ridges in or on the dorsal
side, abaxial, within the perianth
Anther. Pollen-bearing portion of stamen
Antheridium. The male sex organ producing the
sperm
Anthesis. Time of flowering; opening of flower
with parts available for pollination
Anthocarpous. Having a body of combined floral
and fruit parts, as in multiple fruits
Anthotaxis. Arrangement of sporophylls, primarily
reproductive in function
Anthropophily. Pollinated by man
Antipetalous. Opposite the petals
Antisepalous. Opposite the sepals
Antitropous. With radicle pointing away from hilum
Antrorse. Bent or directed upward
Apetalous. No petals or corolla
Aphyllopodic. Without blade-bearing leaves at
base of plant
Aphyllous. Without leaves, no whorls of leaves
Apical
or Terminal. At the top, tip, or end of a structure
Apiculate. More than 3:1 l/w, usually slightly
curled and flexuous
Apocarpous. With carpels separate
Apogamy. Producing sporophytes from a gametophyte
without fertilization
Apopetalous or Choripetalous. With separate petals
Apophysis. Exposed outer surface of either an
ovuliferous scale or megasporophyll as seen when the cone is
closed
Aposepalous or Chorisepalous. With separate sepals
Apospory. Producing gametophytes directly from
a sporophyte without producing spores
Apostemonous. With separate stamens
Appendicular. Typical stamen with a variously-shaped
or modified, protruding connective, as in Viola
Applanate or Plane. Flat, without vertical curves
or bends
Appressed or Adpressed. Pressed closely to axis
upward with angle of divergence 15° or less
Arachnoid. Cobwebby
Arborescent. Tree-like in appearance and size
Archegonium. The female sex organ producing the
egg
Arcuate. Curved like a crescent, can be downward
or upward
Areolate. Divided into many angular or squarish
spaces
Areoles. The spaces formed by a vein network
Arhizous. Without roots, no whorls of roots
Aril. Outgrowth of funiculus, raphe, or integuments;
or fleshy integuments or seed coat, a sarcotesta at base of
the fleshy seed; e.g., Cepalotaxus
Arillate. General term for an outgrowth from the
funiculus, seed coat or chalaza; or a fleshy seed coat
Aristate. More than 3:1 l/w, usually prolonged,
straight and stiff
Articulate. Generally meaning having a joint as
in leaves, leaflets or stems, as in heterophyllous species of
Selaginella; or having a swollen area, often discolored, at
the point of branching of the stem
Ascending. Directed upward with an angle of divergence
of 16-45°
Asepalous. No sepals or calyx
Asperous. Having a rough surface
Assurgent. Directed upward or forward
Astemonous or Anandrous. No stamens or androecium
Astylocarpellous. Without a style and a stipe
Astylocarpepodic. Without a style, with a stipe
Astylous. Style absent
Asymmetric. Without regularity in any dimension
Attenuate. Elongate, tapering, usually applied
to base
Auriculate. Lobe rounded; sinus depth variable;
outer margin concave, inner convex or straight
Auriculiform. Usually obovate with two small rounded,
basal lobes
Autogamy. Self-fertilization in a single flower
Autumnal. Appearing in autumn
Awl-shaped Leaf. Subulate; narrow, flat, stiff,
sharp-pointed, usually less than 1/2 in. long; e.g., Juniperus
Axial. With branches arising from buds in leaf
axil
Axile. With the placentae along the central axis
in a compound ovary with septa
Axillary
or Lateral. In axils of leaves or leaf scars;
axillary leaves - leaves borne in the axils of branches, as
in heterosporous species of Selaginella Baccacetum or Etaerio.
An aggregation of berries, as in Actaea
Baccate. Juicy and very succulent
Balausta. Many-seeded, many- loculed indehiscent
fruit with a tough, leathery pericarp, as in Punica
Banded. Transverse stripes of one color crossing
another
Barbed. With short, rigid reflexed bristles or
processes
Barbellate. Minutely barbed
Bark. Tissues of plant outside wood or xylem
Basal
or Radical. At the bottom or base of a structure
Base. bottom or lower portion
Basicaulous. With basal branches
Basicaulous. Near base of stem
Basicidal Capsule. One that dehisces through basal
slits or fissures, as in some species of Aristolochia
Basifixed. Anther attached at its base to apex
of filament
Basipetal. Developing downward, toward base
Basipetiolar. At the base of the petiole
Basiramous. Leaves on lower part of branch
Basiscopic. Facing basally
Bast
bundles (peripheral strands). bundles of thick-walled
cells parallel to the midrib, as in Isoetes
beard. A tuft, line or zone of trichomes
Bearded
or Barbate. With long trichomes usually in a
tuft, line or zone
Bent. Foliate embryo with expanded and usually
thick cotyledons in an axile position bent upon the hypocotyl
in a jacknife position
Berry. Fleshy fruit, with succulent pericarp,
as in Vitis
Bibacca. A fused double berry, as in Lonicera
Bicarpellate. Two-carpelled
Bicrenate or Doubly-crenate. With smaller rounded
teeth on larger rounded teeth
Bidentate. Two-toothed
Biduous. Lasting two days
Biennial. Living two years, usually flowering
second year
Biferous. Appearing twice yearly
Bifid. Cut or divided into two lobes or parts
Biflorous. Flowering in autumn as well as in spring
Bifoliolate, Geminate, or Jugate. With two leaflets
from a common point
Bifurcate. Divided into two forks or branches
Bigeminate, Bijugate. With two orders of leaflets,
each bifoliolate; doubly paired
Bilabiate. Two-lipped, with two unequal divisions
Bilocular. Two-locular
Bimestrial. Periodicity: occurring every two months;
duration: lasting two months
Binate. Twinned
Bipalmate. Twice palmate
Bipinnate. Twice pinnate
Biseriate. Two-rowed; in two series
Biserrate or Doubly-serrate. With sharply cut
teeth on the margins of larger sharply cut teeth
Bisexual. Both sexes in same flower (monoclinous,
perfect)
Biternate. With two orders of leaflets, each ternately
compound
Blade. The expanded portion of a leaf
Blastocarpous. Germination of seeds while within
the pericarp, as in Rhizophora
Blotched. The color disposed in broad, irregular
blotches
Bordered. One color is surrounded by an edging
of another
Botuliform. Sausage-shaped
Bract. Modified, usually reduced, leaf in the
inflorescence
Bracteal
and Laminar. May be localized or found over
entire structure
Bracteole or Bractlet. A secondary or smaller
bract
Bristle. A stiff, strong trichome, as in the perianth
of some members of the Cyperaceae
Bristly. Beset with bristles
Brochidodromous. With a single primary vein, the
secondary veins not terminating at the margin but joined together
in a series of prominent upward arches or marginal loops on
each side of the primary vein
Bud. Immature vegetative or floral shoot or both,
often covered by scales. Bud Primordium - Meristematic tissue
that gives rise to a lateral bud
Bulb. A short, erect, underground stem surrounded
by fleshy leaves
Bulbel. A small bulb produced from the base of
a larger bulb
Bulbil. A small bulb or bulb-like body produced
on above ground parts
Bulblet. A small bulb, irrespective of origin;
a small, bud-like vegetative propagule produced on the leaves
of some ferns
Bullate. Puckered or blistered
Bur
(Involucre). Cypsela enclosed in dry involucre,
as in Xanthium
Buttress. Roots with board-like or plank-like
growth on upper side, presumably a supporting structure
Caducous. Dropping off very early,
usually applied to floral parts
Calcarate. Spurred
Calceolate. Slipper-shaped, as in the corolla
of Cypripedium
Callosity. A thickened, raised area, which is
usually hard; a callus
Calybium. A hard one-loculed dry fruit derived
from an inferior ovary, as in Quercus
Calyx. The lowermost whorl of modified leaves,
sepals
Campanulate. Bell-shaped; with flaring tube about
as broad as long and a flaring limb
Campylodromous. With several primary veins or
their branches diverging at or close to a single point and running
in strongly developed, basally recurved arches which converge
toward the apex, reaching it or not
Campylotropous. With body bent or curved on one
side so that micropyle is near medially attached funiculus
Canaliculate. Longitudinally grooved, usually
in relation to petioles or midribs
Cancellate or Clathrate. Latticed
Canescent or Incanous. Covered with dense, fine
grayish-white trichomes
Cantharophily. Pollinated by beetles
Capillate. Hair-shapedCapitate. Head-like
Capitulum or Head. A determinate or indeterminate
crowded group of sessile or subsessile flowers on a compound
receptacle or torus
Carina. Keel. Carinal Canal - A canal beneath
a stem ridge associated with a vascular bundle
Carinate. Keeled
Carnose
or Sarcous. Fleshy
Carpel. The female sporophyll within flower; floral
organ that bears ovules in angiosperms; unit of compound pistil
Carpophore. Floral axis extension between adjacent
carpels, as in the Apiaceae
Carpopodium. Short, thick, pistillate stalk
Carpotaxis. Arrangement of fruits, reproductive
in function
Cartilaginous. Hard and tough but flexible
Carunculate. With an excrescent outgrowth from
integuments near the hilum, as in Euphorbia; fibrous with stringy
or cord-like seed coat, as mace in Myristica
Caryopsis or Grain. A one-seeded dry, indehiscent
fruit with the seed coat adnate to the fruit wall, derived from
a one-loculed superior ovary
Catadromous. Having the first lobe or segment
of a pinna arising acroscopically in compound leaves
Cataphyll. Rudimentary scale leaf produced by
seedling, usually in cryptocotylar species
Caudate
(Base attenuate). Acuminate with concave margins
Caudex. A short, thick, vertical or branched perennial
stem usually subterranean, or at ground level
Cauline. May be all over (general) or along the
ribs (costal), or in the grooves (canaliculate)
Caulocarpic. Plants having the stem living for
many years, bearing flowers and fruits
Caulous. With branches more or less evenly spaced
along trunk
Central Canal. The large centrally located
air space in the stem
Centrifugal. Developing from the inside outward,
or from top downward
Centripetal. Developing from the outside inward,
or from bottom upward
Centroramous. At the center of the branch
Ceraceous. Waxy
Cernuous. Drooping
Cespitose. Short, much-branched, plant forming
a cushion
Chaff
or Pale. Scale or bract at base of tubular flower
in composites
Chalaza. End of ovule opposite micropyle
Chalazogamy. Pollen tube entrance through chalaza
Channelled or Canaliculate. With a longitudinal
groove
Chartaceous. Papery, opaque and thin
Chasmantheric Pollination. Pollen transferred
from a normally dehisced anther by a pollinating agent with
pollen grain germination on the stigma and subsequent growth
of the pollen tube through stigma, style and the ovule into
the embryo sac
Cheiropterophily. Pollinated by bats
Chlamydeous. With perianth
Ciliate. With conspicuous marginal trichomes
Ciliolate. With tiny or small marginal trichomes
Cincinnus. A tight, modified helicoid cyme in
which pedicels are short on the developed side
Circinate. With lamina rolled from apex to base
with apex in center of coil
Circumalate. Winged circumferentially
Circumferential. At or near the circumference;
surrounding a rounded structure
Circumscissle Capsule or Pyxis. One that dehisces
circumferentially, as in Plantago
Cirrhous. More than 10:1 l/w, coiled and flexuous
Cladode
(phylloclad). A flattened main stem resembling
a leaf
Cladodromous. With a single primary vein, the
secondary veins not terminating at the margin and freely ramified
toward it
Cladoptosic. Shedding of branches, stems and leaves
simultaneously, as in Taxodium
Clambering. Sprawling across objects, without
climbing structures
Clasping. Partly surrounding the stem.
Clavate. Club-shaped
Claw. The long, narrow petiole-like base of a
sepal or petal
Cleft. Indentations or incisions cut 1/4-1/2 distance
to midrib or midvein
Cleistantheric Pollination. Pollen not transferred
from a normally dehisced anther by a pollinating agent; pollen
grain germinates within the anther with subsequent growth of
the pollen tube through the anther wall and ovary wall into
the ovule and embryo sac
Climbing. Growing upward by means of tendrils,
petioles, or adventitious roots
Clinanthium. The compound receptacle of the composite
head
Clouded. Colors are unequally blended together
Clustered, Conglomerate, Agglomerate, Crowded, Aggregate.
Parts dense, usually irregularly overlapping each other
Coalescent. With like or unlike parts or organs
incompletely separated; partially fused in a more or less irregular
fashion
Cochleate. Snail-shaped
Coenocarpium (Various Structures). Multiple fruit
derived from ovaries, floral parts, and receptacles of many
coalesced flowers, as in Ananas
Coetaneous. Flowering as the leaves expand; synantherous
Coherent. With like parts or organs joined, but
only superficially and without actual histological continuity
Coleoptile. Protective sheath around epicotyl
in grasses
Coleorhiza. Protective sheath around radicle in
grasses
Collet. External demarcation between hypocotyl
and root
Columella. The sterile central part within a mature
sporangium or capsule
Column,
Gynostemium or Gynandrium. With fused stamens
and carpels (stigma and style) as in Orchis
Columnar. Erect with a stout main stem or trunk
Comose. With a tuft of trichomes, usually apical
Complete. Leaf with blade, petiole, and stipules;
flower with four types of floral parts
Compound. Composed of two or more anatomically
or morphologically equivalent units, whether subdivided into
them or an aggregate of them
Compressed or Complanate. Flattened
Conduplicate. Longitudinally folded upward or
downward along the central axis so that ventral and/or dorsal
sides face each other
Cone
(strobilus). Aggregation of sporangia-bearing
structures at tip of the stem (either sporophylls or scales
in the Gymnosperms)
Conical. Having figure of true cone
Conjugate. Fused pairs, as the fruits of Lonicera
Connate. With like parts or organs integrally
fused to one another with histological continuity
Connective. Filament extension between thecae
Connivent. Convergent apically without fusion
Contiguous. Touching but not adnate, connate,
adherent, or coherent
Continuous. Symmetry of arrangement even, not
broken
Contorted. Twisted around a central axis; twisted
Contortuplicate. With weirdly folded corrugate
cotyledons
Contractile or Pull. Roots capable of shortening,
usually drawing the plant or plant part deeper into the soil,
usually with a wrinkled surface
Convolute. With one lamina enrolled in another
lamina
Cordate (Apex obcordate). Lobe rounded;
sinus depth 1/8-1/4 distance to midpoint of blade; margins convex
and/or straight
Cordiform. Heart-shaped
Coriaceous. Thick and leathery
Corm. The enlarged, solid, fleshy base of a stem
with scales; an upright underground storage stem
Cormel. Small corm produced at base of parent
corm
Corneous. Horny
Corniculate. Horned
Corolla. The whorl of petals located above the
sepals
Corona. A crown; any outgrowth between the stamens
and corolla which may be petaline or staminal in origin
Coronate. Tubular or flaring perianth or staminal
outgrowth; petaloid appendage
Coroniform. Crown-shaped
Corrugate. With lamina irregularly folded in all
directions, wrinkled
Corymb. A flat-topped or convex indeterminate
cluster of flowers. Compound Corymb - A branched corymb
Costa. The midvein of a minor divsion of a fern
leaf
Costate. Coarsely ribbed
Cotyledon. Embryonic leaf or leaves in seed
Cotylespermous. With food reserve in cotyledon,
derived from zygote
Cotyliform. Cup-shaped
Craspedodromous. Simple - With a single primary
vein, all of the secondary veins and their branches terminating
at the margin. Mixed - With a single primary vein, some of the
secondary veins terminating at the margin and an approximately
equal number otherwise
Crateriform. Shallow cup-shaped as the involucre
of some species of Quercus
Crenate. Shallowly ascending round-toothed, or
teeth obtuse; teeth cut less than 1/8 way to midrib or midvein
Crenulate. Diminutive of crenate, teeth cut to
1/16 distance to midrib or midvein
Crested
or Cristate. With a terminal ridge or tuft
Crispate. Curled; margins divided and twisted
in more than one plane
Crozier. The coiled developing leaf of a fern
Cruciform or Cruciate. Cross-shaped
Crustaceous. Hard, thin, and brittle
Cryptantherous. With stamens included
Cryptocotylar or Hypogeous. With the cotyledons
remaining inside the seed; seed usually remaining below ground
Cucullate. Hooded
Culm. Flowering and fruiting stems of grasses
and sedges
Cupule. Fused involucral bracts subtending flower,
as in Quercus
Curvative or arcuate. With lamina folded transversely
into an arc
Cuspidate. Acute but coriaceous and stiff
Cyathium. A pseudanthium subtended by an involucre,
frequently with petaloid glands, as in Euphorbia
Cylindric. Long-tubular
Cymbiform. Boat-shaped
Cyme
or Dichasium. A determinate, dichotomous inflorescence
with the pedicels of equal length. Scorpioid Cyme or Rhipidium
- A zigzag determinate inflorescence with branches developed
on opposite sides of the rachis alternately. Compound
Cyme
- A branched cyme
Cymule. A simple, small dichasium
Cypsela. An achene derived from a one-loculed,
inferior ovary
Deciduous. Persistent for one
growing season
Declinate. Directed or curved downward
Decompound. A general term for leaflets in two
or more orders - bi-, tri-etc - pinnately, palmately, or ternately
compound
Decumbent. Reclining or lying on the ground with
the tips ascending
Decurrent. Elongate, extending downward
Decussate. Opposite leaves at right angle to preceding
pair
Deflexed. Bent abruptly downward
Dehiscent. Opening regularly by valves, slits,
etc., as a capsule or anther
Deliquescent. Softening and wasting away
Dentate. Margins with rounded or sharp, coarse
teeth that point outwards at right angles to midrib or midvein,
cut 1/16 to 1/8 distance to midrib or midvein
Denticidal Capsule. One that dehisces apically,
leaving a ring of teeth, as in Cerastium
Denticulate. Diminutive of dentate, cut to 1/16
distance to midrib or midvein
Depauperate. Small and usually poorly developed
Depressed. Pressed closely to axis downward with
angle of divergence of 166-180°
Descending. Directed downward with an angle of
divergence of 136-165°
Determinate. Growth of plant parts, the size of
which is limited by cessation of meristematic activity during
the year
Dextrorse. Rising helically from right to left,
a characteristic of twining stems
Diadelphous. With two groups of stamens connate
by their filaments
Diandrous. With two stamens per flower
Diaphanous. Translucent
Dichasium. Cymose inflorescence in which each
axis produces a pair of lateral axes
Dichlamydeous. With perianth composed of distinct
calyx and corolla
Dichogamous. With maturation of stamens or anther
and carpels or stigma at different times
Dichotomous. With branches forking into two more
or less equal parts
Diclesium (Calyx). Achene or nut surrounded by
a persistent calyx, as in Mirabalis
Diclinous. Plant with imperfect flowers; stamens
and carpels in separate flowers either monoecious or dioecious
Dicotyledonous. With two cotyledons
Dictyostele. A dissected solenostele with each
individual bundle a meristele
Dicyclic. Two-whorled
Didymous. With stamens in two equal pairs
Didynamous. With stamens in two unequal pairs
Diffuse. Spread over a wide surface
Digestive Glands. Enzyme-secreting glands found
mostly on leaves of carnivorous and insectivorous plants
Dilated. Widened; expanded
Dimerous. Whorl with two members
Dimidiate. Divided into unequal halves
Dimorphic. Having two different sizes and/or shapes
within the same species
Dioecious. Plant with all flowers imperfect, but
staminate and pistillate on separate plants
Diplecolobal. With incumbent cotyledons folded
two or more times
Diplostemonous. With stamens in two whorls, outer
opposite the sepals, inner opposite petals
Diplotegium. A pyxis derived from an inferior
ovary
Dipterous. Two-winged
Disc. A discoid structure developed from receptacle
at base of ovary or from stamens around the ovary
Discoid. Orbicular with convex faces
Discoidal. A single large spot of color in the
center of another
Discontinuous. Basal and lateral, basal and terminal,
or lateral and terminal; not continuous
Dissected. Irregularly cut into numerous segments
Distal. Away from the point of origin or attachment
Distichous. Leaves 2-ranked, in one plane
Distinct. With like parts or organs unjoined and
separate from one another
Diurnal. Opening during the day
Divergent, Patent, or Divaricate. More or less
horizontally spreading with angle of divergence of 15° or less
up or down from the horizontal
Divided. Cut 3/4 to almost entire distance to
middle of structure
Dolabriform. Axe-shaped
Dorsal. Pertaining to the surface most distant
from the axis; back of an outer face of organ; lower side of
leaf; abaxial. Dorsal Side - Back or abaxial side, or the lower
side of a perianth part
Dorsifixed. Anther attached dorsally and medially
to apex of filament
Dorsilaminar. On dorsal side of blade
Dorsiventral. Planate and having distinct dorsal
and ventral surfaces, the two usually different
Dotted. The color disposed in very small round
spots
Downy. Covered with short, weak, soft trichomes
Drupe. A fleshy fruit with a stony endocarp, as
in Prunus
Drupecetum. An aggregation of drupelets, as in
Rubus
Drupelet. A small drupe, as in Rubus
Dwarf. Very small. Dwarf Shoots or Spurs - Shoots
that develop from preformed buds which have very short internodal
lengths or intervals
Dyad. Pollen grains occurring in clusters of two
Eccentric. Off-center style
Echinate. Covered with spines
Ectocarp
or Exocarp. Outermost layer of pericarp
Edged. One color is surrounded by a very narrow
rim of another
Elaminate. Without blade
Elater. One of four elongate appendages on the
spores, as in Equisetum
Elliptic. With widest axis at midpoint of structure
and with margins symmetrically curved
Emarginate. Lobe rounded; sinus depth 1/16-1/8
distance to midpoint of blade; margins straight or convex
Embryo. Young sporophyte consisting of epicotyl,
hypocotyl, radicle, and one or more cotyledons. Embryo Sac -
Female gametophyte. Linear Embryo - Axial embryo several times
longer than broad, straight, curved or coiled; cotyledons not
expanded; endosperm present or absent
Emergent. With part(s) of plant aerial and part(s)
submersed; rising out of the water above the surface
Emersifolious. With emergent leaves
Endocarp. Innermost differentiated layer of pericarp
Endosperm. Food reserve tissue in seed derived
from fertilized polar nuclei; or food reserve derived from megametophyte
in gymnosperms
Endospermous or Albuminous. With food reserve
in endosperm or albumen, derived from fertilized polar nuclei
Entire. Without indentations or incisions on maigins;
smooth
Entomophily. Pollinated by insects
Eophyll. Term applied to first few leaves with
green, expanded lamina developed by seedlings; transitional
type leaves developed before formation of adult leaves
Epetiolate. Without petiole, leaf sessile
Epetiolulate. Without petiolule, leaflet sessile
Ephemeral. Germinating, growing, flowering and
fruiting in a short period, as most desert herbs
Epicalyx. Group of leaves resembling sepals below
the true calyx
Epicalyx
or Calycle. A whorl of bracts below but resembling
a true calyx
Epicormic Shoots or Water Sprouts. Shoots that
develop from dormant lateral buds on the trunk which have very
long and frequently variable internodal lengths or intervals
Epicotyl. Apical end of embryo axis that gives
rise to shoot system
Epigyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals,
stamens are attached to the floral tube above the ovary with
the ovary adnate to the tube or hypanthium
Epihyperigyny. The condition in which the sepals,
petals, stamens are attached to the floral tube or hypanthium
surrounding the ovary; a combination perigyny and partly inferior
ovary
Epihypogyny. The condition in which the sepals,
petals, stamens are attached about half-way from the base of
the ovary to the partly adnate hypanthium tube; half-inferior
insertion of parts
Epimatium. Fleshy covering of the seed and more
or less fused with the integument; arising from the chalazal
end of the ovule like an additional integument; e.g., Podocarpus
Epiperigyny. The condition in which the sepals,
petals, stamens are attached to the floral or hypanthium cup
above the ovary with the lower part of the hypanthium completely
adnate to the ovary
Epipetalous. With stamens attached to or inserted
upon petals or corolla
Epipetiolar. With branches arising from buds on
the petiole
Epipetric. Upon rock
Epiphyllous. From a phylloclad or peculiar bract,
as in Tilia
Epiphytic. Upon another plant
Epirhizous. With roots upon another plant
Episepalous. With stamens attached or inserted
upon sepals or calyx
Epitropous . Dorsal - Ovule pendulous or hanging, micropyle
above, raphe dorsal (away from ventral bundle). Ventral - Ovule
pendulous or hanging, micropyle above, raphe ventral (toward
ventral bundle)
Equilateral. With halves or sides equal in shape
and size
Equinoctial. Having flowers which expand and close
regularly at particular hours of the day
Equitant. Leaves 2-ranked with overlapping bases,
usually sharply folded along midrib
Eramous. With unbranched stems
Erect. Upright
Erose. Irregularly, shallowly toothed and/or lobed
margins; appearing gnawed
Essential Organs. The androecium and gynoecium
Ethereal
Oil Producing Glands. Mostly aromatic compound
producing glands found on various parts of the plant, without
definitely known functions
Eucamptodromous. With a single primary vein, the
secondary veins curved upward and gradually iminishing distally
within the margin and interconnected by a series of cross-veins
without forming conspicuous marginal loops
Eusporangiate. Having the sporangium develop from
a great amount of leaf tissue as opposed to only one or a few
cells
Eustele. A dissected siphonostele with phloem
only to the outside of the xylem
Evanescent. Passing away, disappearing early
Evergreen. Persistent two or more growing seasons
Evident. Clearly visible macroscopically
Excentric. One-sided; off-center
Excurrent. Running out, as the nerve of a leaf
projecting beyond the margin
Exospore
or Exine. Outer spore wall layer
Exsserted. Projecting out of, beyond
Exstipellate. Without stipels
Exstipulate. Without stipules
Falcate
or Seculate. Sickle-shaped
False
Veins. Small vein-like areas of thick-walled
cells in the leaves of some lower vascular plants
Farinaceous. Mealy
Fasciated. Unnaturally and often monstrously connate
or adnate, the coalesced parts often unnaturally proliferated
in size and/ or number; e.g., inflorescence of Celosia
Fascicle. Cluster of needles borne on a minute
determinate short shoot in the axil of a primary leaf (bract);
e.g. Pinus.
Fascicle
Sheath - Closely imbricated bud scales at the base of the
fascicle of needles; e.g., Pinus
Fascicled. Fleshy or tuberous roots in a cluster
Fasciculate. Leaves or other structures in a cluster
from a common point
Fastigiate. Strictly erect and parallel
Faucal
Area. The throat area
Female,
Carpellate, or Pistillate. Plant with pistillate
flowers only
Fetid. Having an unpleasant, rotten odor
Fenestrate. With windowlike holes through the
leaves or other structures
Fibonacci Phyllotaxis. A fundamental type of leaf
arrangement expressed as a fraction in which each succeeding
fraction is the sum of the two previous numerators and the sum
of the two previous denominators, i.e., 1/2, 1/3, 2/5, 3/8,
5/13, 8/ 21, etc. The numerator represents the number of turns
or spirals around a stem before one leaf is directly above another
and the denominator represents the number of leaves in the turns
or spirals before one is directly above the other. 2/5 phyllotaxy
would mean two twists and five leaves before one leaf is directly
above the other or an angle of divergence of 144 between succeeding
leaves in the stem (2/5 of 360 ).According to Leppik anthotaxis
and semataxis do not necessarily follow the same pattern, with
anthotaxis in Michelia cited as being in 2/7, 3/7, 3/8, and
4/10 systems of arrangement.
Fibrous. With fine, threadlike or slender roots
or fibers
Filament. Stamen stalk
Filiferous. Filamentose or Filiferous With coarse marginal
fibers or threads
Filantherous or Typical. Stamen with distinct
anther and filament with or without thecal appendages, as in
Rhexia or Vaccinium
Filiform. Threadlike, usually flexuous
Fimbriate. Margins fringed
Fimbriolate. Minutely fimbriate
Fistulose. Hollow, as without pith
Flabellate. Fan-shaped branching
Flabelliform. Fan-shaped
Flaccid. Lax and weak
Flagellate. Bearing flagella, whip-like strands
or organs
Fleshy. Succulent roots
Flexuous. With a series of long or open vertical
curves at right angles to the central axis
Floating. Upon the surface of the water
Floccose. Covered with dense, appressed trichomes
in patches or tufts
Flotophyllous. With floating leaves
Flower. Reproductive structure of flowering plants
with or without protective envelopes, the calyx and/or corolla;
short shoot with sporophylls and with or without sterile protective
leaves, the calyx and corolla
Flushing Shoots. Shoots that develop from
mature terminal buds several times during a season. Terminal
bud will develop shoot with new terminal bud which will develop
more shoots and a terminal bud which will develop etc. --several
times in a season with several flushes of growth.
Fly
Trap. Hinged, insectivorous leaf, as in Dionaea
Folded. Foliate embryo with cotyledons usually
thin and extensively expanded and folded in various ways
Follicetum. An aggregation of follicles, as in
Caltha
Follicle. A dry, dehiscent fruit derived from
one carpel that splits along one suture
Fovea. Pit or depression containing the sporangium
in the leaf base of Isoetes
Foveolate. Pitted
Free. Unlike parts or organs unjoined and separate
from one another
Free-adnate. Hypanthium fused with ovary and having
a free limb around or above ovary
Free-central. With the placenta along the central
axis in a compound ovary without septa
Fringe. The modified margin of a petal, sepal,
tepal or lip
Frond. The leaf of a fern
Fruit. Matured ovary of flowering plants, with
or without accessory parts
Fruticose. Shrubby
Fugacious. Ephemeral, usually applied to plant
parts
Funicular. With a persistent elongate funiculus
attached to seed coat, as in Magnolia
Funiculus. Stalk by which ovule is attached to
placenta
Fusiform. Spindle-shaped; broadest in middle and
tapering to each end
Galeate. Helmet-shaped, as one
sepal in Aconitum
Geitonogamy. Fertilization of one flower by another
on the same plant
Gelatinous. Jellylike; soft and quivery
Geminate
or Binate. Paired; in pairs
Gemma. A vegetative reproductive bud borne on
the stem, as in Lycopodium; a multicellular reproductive propagule
on gametophytes, as in ferns
Geniculate. Abruptly bent at a node, zigzag
Geoflorous. With subterranean flower
Geocarpous. Fruits below ground, as in Amphicarpum
Gibbous. Inflated on one side near the base
Gigantic. Very large
Glabrate. Without trichomes
Glabrescent. Becoming glabrous
Glabrous. Smooth; devoid of trichomes
Gland. A secreting part or appendage
Glandular. Covered with minute, blackish to translucent
glands
Glans
(Involucre). Nut subtended by a cupulate, dry
involucre, as in Quercus
Glaucescent. Sparingly or slightly glaucous
Glaucous. Covered with a bloom or smooth, waxy
coating
Globose. Round
Glochidiate. With barbed trichomes, glochids,
usually in tufts
Glomerule. An indeterminate dense cluster of sessile
or subsessile flowers
Glume. Bract, usually occurring in pairs, at the
base of the grass spikelet
Glutinous. Having a shiny, sticky surface
Granular. Finely mealy, covered with small granules
Greasy
or Unctuous. Slick, oily, slippery to touch
Gynagamous. Inflorescence with pistillate flowers
inside or above and neuter flowers outside or below (gynagamocephalous)
Gynandrial or Gynostemial. With fused stamens
and carpels (stigma and style) as in the Orchidaceae
Gynecandrous. Inflorescence with pistillate flowers
inside or above and staminate outside or below, as in spikes
of some species of Carex
Gynehermaphroditic. Inflorescence with pistillate
flowers inside or above and hermaphroditic outside or below
(gynehermaphrodicephalous)
Gynobasic. Attached at base of ovary in central
depression
Gynodioecious. Some plants with perfect flowers
and some with pistillate
Gynoecium or Pistil. The whorl or group of carpels
in the center or at the top of the flower; all carpels in a
flower
Gynomonoecious. Plant with pistillate and perfect
flowers
Gynophore. The stipe of a pistil or carpel
Half-inferior. Other floral organs
attached around ovary with hypanthium adnate to lower half of
ovary
Half-terete. Flat on one side, terete on other;
semicircular in cross section
Haplomorphic. Flowers with parts spirally arranged
at a simple level in a semispheric or hemispheric form; petals
or tepals colored; parts numerous; e.g., Nymphaea, Magnolia
Hastate. Lobe pointed and oriented outward or
divergent in relation to petiole or midrib; sinus depth variable;
margins variable
Hastiform. Triangular with two flaring basal lobes
Haustorial. Absorbing roots, within host of some
parasitic species
Helicoid
Cyme or Bostryx. A determinate inflorescence
in which the branches develop on one side only, appearing simple
Hemianatropous or Hemitropous. With body half-inverted
so that funiculus is attached near middle with micropyle terminal
and at right angles
Herb. A usually low, soft, or coarse plant with
annual aboveground stems
Herbaceous. Soft and succulent
Hermaphrodagamous. Inflorescence with hermaphroditic
flowers inside or above and neuter outside or below (hermaphrodagamocephalous)
Hermaphrodandrous. Inflorescence with hermaphroditic
flowers inside or above and staminate outside or below (hermaphrodandrocephalous)
Hermaphroditic or Monoclinous. Plant with all
flowers perfect
Hesperidium. A thick-skinned septate berry with
the bulk of the fruit derived from glandular hairs, as in Citrus
Heterandrous. With stamens of different sizes
and/or shapes
Heteranthous. Having different states in two different
sets of flowers, only one state present in each set
Heteroblasty. With juvenile foliage distinctly
different from adult foliage in size or shape
Heterocarpous. With carpels of different sizes
and/or shapes
Heterocephalous, Heterocymous, Heterospicous.
Heads, cymes, spikes with flowers of different sexual conditions.
Note: other inflorescence word stems could be used for appropriate
inflorescence type.
Heterocladous. With stems of different sizes and/or
shapes
Heteromerous or Anisomerous. With different number
of members in different whorls
Heteropetalous. With petals of different sizes
and/or shapes
Heterophyllous. With leaves of different sizes
and/or shapes. Heterophyllous Shoots - Shoots that develop from
winter buds which do not contain the primordia of all the leaves
to develop during the year
Heterophytous. Having different states in two
different sets of plants, only one state present in each set
Heterosepalous. With sepals of different sizes
and/or shapes
Heterosexual. Inflorescences or flowers within
the plant with different sexual conditions
Heterosporous. Having two kinds of spores, usually
differing in sizeHeterostichus. With unequal rows
Heterostylous. With styles of different sizes
or lengths or shapes within a species
Heterotropous. Ovule position not fixed in ovary
Hibernal
or Hiemal. Appearing in the winter
Hilum. Funicular scar on seed coat
Hip
or Cynarrhodion (Receptacle and Hypanthium).
An aggregation of achenes surrounded by an urceolate receptacle
and hypanthium, as in Rosa
Hippocrepiform. Horseshoe-shaped
Hirsute. Covered with long, rather stiff trichomes
Hirsutullous or Hirtellous. Minutely hirsute
Hispid. Covered with very long, stiff trichomes
Hispidulous. Approaching hispid, minutely hispid
Homandrous. With stamens of same size and shape
Homanthous. Having more than one state within
each individual flower, all flowers the same
Homocarpous. With carpels of same size and shape
Homocephalous, Homocymous, Homospicous. Heads,
cymes, spikes with flowers sexually uniform
Homochlamydeous. With perianth composed of similar
parts, each part a tepal
Homogamous. With maturation of stamens or anther
and carpels or stigma at same time
Homophytous. Having more than one state within
each individual plant, all plants the same
Homosexual. Inflorescences or flowers sexually
uniform
Homosporous. Having spores of only one kind
Homostylous. With styles of same sizes or lengths
and shapes
Hood. A cover-shaped perianth part, usually with
a turned down margin
Horn. A curved, pointed and hollow protuberance
from the perianth
Hyaline. Thin and translucent or transparent
Hydrophily. Pollinated by water
Hymenopterophily. Pollinated by bees
Hypanepigyny. The condition in which the sepals,
petals, stamens are attached to the elongate floral tube or
hypanthium above the inferior ovary, as in Oenothera
Hypanthium. The fused or coalesced basal portion
of floral parts (sepals, petals, stamens) around the ovary
Hypanthodium. An inflorescence with flowers on
wall of a concave capitulum, as in Ficus
Hyphodromous. With a single primary vein and all
other venation absent, rudimentaryj or concealed within a coriaceous
or fleshy blade
Hypocotyl. Embryonic stem in seed, located below
cotyledons
Hypocotylespermous or Macropodial. With food reserve
stored in hypocotyl, derived from zygote
Hypogynium. Perianth-like structure of bony scales
subtending the ovary, as in Scleria and other members of the
Cyperaceae
Hypogyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals,
stamens are attached below the ovary
Hypophyllous. With small leaves, as bracts, scales,
cataphylls
Hypotropous. Dorsal - Ovule erect, micropyle below,
raphe dorsal (away from ventral bundle). Ventral - Ovule erect,
micropyle below, raphe ventral (toward ventral bundle)
Hysteranthous. With leaves appearing after flowers
Imbricate. Having margins overlapping
Imparipinnate. Pinnate with a conform terminal
leaflet. Imparipinnately Compound - Odd-pinnately compound,
with a terminal leaflet
Imperfect or Unisexual. With stamens or carpels
absent in the flower
Implicate. With both lamina margins folded sharply
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