Glossary

Glossary

Glossary

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There are currently 54 names in this directory beginning with the letter A.
Abaxial
Away from the axis (stem) or central line.

Abortive
Imperfectly developed

Acaulescent
Inconspicuous stems, or having no stem at all

Acaulous
Having no stem or a very short inconspicuous stem

Achene
One locular, dry indehiscent fruit

Actinomorphic
Regular of or relating to a flower that can be divided into equal halves along any diameter, radially symmetrical

Acuminate
Tapering gradually or abruptly from inwardly curved, somewhat concave sides, into a narrow point

Acuminate Apex
A leaf tip that starts out straight or convex, then changes to concave and gradually comes to a point. The angle should be between 60 degrees and 90 degrees. If the angle is greater than 90 degrees, it is a short acuminate apex, and if the angle is less than 60 degrees, it is a long acuminate apex

Acute
Sharply pointed with the sides straight or somewhat convex, an angle of less than 90 degrees with two almost straight lines, as in a blade base Ex. B. rubronervata View Illustration

Acute Apex
A leaf apex (tip) that is shaped less than 90 degrees and follows a reasonable straight line; if the apex has a point it is a sharply acute apex and if the tip is rounded off, it is a roundly acute apex

Acute Base
A leaf base that is sharply tapering to a point at the point of attachment or base

Adaxial
Toward the axis or center, turned toward the apex

Adnate
Attached the whole length, or by the whole length, or broadly attached

Adpressed
Lying flat against

Adventitious
Growth Leaves or plant parts appearing in abnormal places, such as roots growing out of aerial stems, or leaves growing out of a flower stalk

Adventitious Roots
Roots arising from an organ other than the root, it can be from a stem or a leaf. They are especially numerous on underground stems, such as rhizomes, corms, and tubers, and make it possible to vegetatively propagate many plants from stem or leaf cuttings

Aestivation
Arrangement of flower parts in the bud

Ala; Alate
Wing, having wings

Alternate
Arranged singly at different heights of axis or stem; not opposite

Ample; Amply
Of large or great size, amount, extent, or capacity

Amplexicaul
Stem-clasping

Androecium
Reproductive portion of male flower composed of one or more stamens, all of the stamens in a flower, collectively, each stamen is made up of an anther and a filament; male element of a bisexual flower View Illustration

Androecium, actinomorphic
An androecium that can be divided into equal halves along any diameter

Androecium, zygomorphic
When all stamen in an androecium are generally positioned in the same direction, resembling a bunch of bananas

Angiosperms
Plants having seeds enclosed in an ovary; flowering plants

Angulate
A leaf margin having noticeable angles, similar to a lobed leaf but the margin is very angular with various salient angles to the edge

Angulate-repand
Having angles and an uneven slightly sinuous margin

Annual
A plant with a lifecycle, of growing from seed to reproduction, in one year or season

Anther
The terminal, pollen producing part of the stamen in the flower View Illustration

Anther-connective
The tissue connecting the two cells of an anther, which in reality is a continuation of the filament

Anthesis
The period during which a flower is fully open and functional

Apex
A leaf tip, the point farthest away from where the leaf is attached; terminal end

Apical
Found at the apex, or leaf tip

Apiculate
Tipped with a short sharp flexible point; ending abruptly in a small sharp point as on a leaf apex

Apiculus
A small, slender point such as at the end of a leaf’s apex

Appendage
An attached subsidiary or secondary part, sometimes projecting or hanging

Appressed
Closely and flatly pressed against

Arcuate; arculate
Curved, having the form of a bow

Areolate
Netted; small spaces enclosed by venation pattern

Aristate
Terminated by a slender, often awn or bristle-like narrow appendage such as on an apex of a leaf

Arms
Branches

Articulated
Jointed

Ascendent
Directed upwards

Ascending
Regarding plant habit, having a general upward direction

Asexual
Sexless

Asymmetric
Characteristic seen in many Begonia leaves, the leaf shape, if divided in half, is not identical or equal on both sides; lacks a plane of symmetry; irregular

Asymmetric decurrent
Of a blade base where the two lobes are not identical or equal on both sides, one is rounded with an angle between 90 and 180 degrees, and the other side has a slightly rounded edge and less than 90 degrees formed by the curved line Ex. B. guaduensis

Asymmetric decurrent and acute
Of a blade base where the two lobes are not equal, one side of the blade base makes a rounded angle less than 90 degrees, and the other side makes a rounded angle between 90 to 180 degrees Ex. B. isopterocarpa

Attenuate
A gradual, very narrow tapering

Auriculate
Having ear-like lobes

Axil
Angle formed between any two organs, the upper angle between a lateral organ, such as a leafstalk and the stem that bears it

Axile
On an axis; of a placenta, on the central axis of an ovary

Axillary
In or arising from an axis, usually referring to the axil of a leaf View Illustration

Axis
The main stem or central part about which organs or plant parts such as branches are arranged; also the long line on which a stem extends itself


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