Glossary
Glossary
Glossary
There are currently 562 names in this directory
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
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
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, zygomorphic
When all stamen in an androecium are generally positioned in the same direction, resembling a bunch of bananas
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
Anther-connective
The tissue connecting the two cells of an anther, which in reality is a continuation of the filament
Apiculate
Tipped with a short sharp flexible point; ending abruptly in a small sharp point as on a leaf apex
Aristate
Terminated by a slender, often awn or bristle-like narrow appendage such as on an apex of a leaf
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
Axil
Angle formed between any two organs, the upper angle between a lateral organ, such as a leafstalk and the stem that bears it
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
Basal
Positioned at or arising from the base of any thing, as leaves arising from the base of the stem
Basal Lobes Overlapped
Of a blade base where no sinus is visible as one of the two lobes at the base sits over the other Ex. B. acetosa
Basal Lobes Spiraled
A leaf base with lobes that curl around to form a spiral. Can be double spiraled or spiraled on one side only. Can be further described as double or single spiraled Ex. B. rex
Base
Lowest point of attachment of any plant part; in a leaf, the lower approximately 25% of the lamina
Begonia
Genus of the family Begoniaceae, perennial, flowering plants that grow in tropical and subtropical areas
Biacute
Having two tips where each is tapering to a point with essentially straight or only slightly convex sides
Bipinnate
Compound-leaved with leaflets on both sides of the petiole (like a feather) which is pinnate
Blade
The lamina or flattened, broad part of a leaf, excluding the stalk or petiole; may apply to a petal, or sepal.
View Illustration
Blade Surface
Variations in the lamina or leaf blade outer layer can be described by the terms: Rugose or covered with reticulated (network of) veins, spaces between are convex (wrinkled), and the elevations irregular, e.g., B. goegoensis, B. rajah, or Bullate where the surface is irregularly puckered or blistered e.g., B. crispula, or Muricate where surface is with a uniform low obtuse elevation e.g., B. ‘Black Raspberry’, or Pustulate where surface has numerous uniform acute elevations, like pimples e.g., B. ‘Emerald Jewel’, or Foveolate where the surface is pitted with shallow distinct depressions e.g., B. ‘Tom Ment’
Blade Texture
The surface of leaves categorized primarily by the blade relative thickness, Membranous is thin or semi-transparent, Chartaceous is paper thin and opaque, Coriaceous is medium thick, but with the appearance and flexibility of soft leather, Fleshy is a thick, firm, juicy, often brittle (breaking when bent to 90 degrees), and Scarious is shriveled, thin and dry, as in old dried out stipules
Bract
A much reduced leaf-like structure just below the base of a flower cluster stem (peduncle). Bracts protect developing flower buds
Bracteole
A small bract appearing either singly or in pairs, a short distance down the pedicel or calyx
Broadly crescent form
Broad and with the shape of the moon in its first or last quarter when it appears to have one concave edge and one convex edge
Broadly cuneate
Wedge shaped, narrowly triangular with narrow end at point of attachment, and a 6 to 5 length to width ratio
Broadly Ovate
A leaf shape that is a flattened oval, oblong or elliptical shape, broadest at the lower end with a 6 to 5 length to width ratio
Bulbils
A miniature bulb produced in leaf axils of a plant. Propagules, in which leaflike organs act as storage organs
Caducous
Dropping off or shedding at an early stage of development. Usually applied to some Begonia stipules that fall off after leaf matures, or some bracts on an inflorescence
Calyx
The outer perianth whorl, usually green; the collective term for all of the sepals of one flower
View Illustration
Cane-like
Having wood-like jointed stems similar to bamboo. Ex. B. maculata, B. ‘Flamingo Queen’, B. ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’
Carpel
The reproductive parts of the female flower. Ovule-bearing structure, the basic unit of the female element of a flower
Caudate
Tall-pointed, excessively acuminated, so the point is long and weak, like the tail of an animal
Caudex
The stem of a plant, especially a woody one; also used to mean a rootstock, or a basal stem structure or storage organ (like a tuber) from which new growth arises
Cheimantha
A hybrid, winter-blooming tuberous group of begonias, derived from crosses with B. socotrana and B. dregei
Chloroplast
An organelle present in plant cells that contains chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments
Ciliate
Fringed with a row of fine hairs; a leaf margin with a fringe of small hair along the entire edge, eyelash-like
Cincinnus; cincinnate
A helicoid cyme. An inflorescence which grows one lateral side only at each dichotomous division, creating a curve
Cleft
A leaf with deep lobes or incisions that indent one third to two thirds of the way from the margin to the leaf radius or umbo
Clone
Genetically identical descendants derived asexually from a single individual; the vegetative propagation such as from cuttings or cloning
Compound
Composed of two or more parts, e.g. a leaf composed of multiple leaflets, or an inflorescence made up of multiple smaller inflorescences
Compound leaf
A leaf separated into two or more distinct leaflets with their own individual petiole Ex. B. carolineifolia, B. thiemei
Connective
The portion of the stamen or tissue connecting the two pollen cells of an anther, especially when the cells are separated
Cordate
Heart-shaped, with the notch lowermost; of the base of a leaf, like the notched part of a heart
Cyme
A flat-topped or rounded-topped determinate inflorescence in which the terminal flower blooms first
Cymose Inflorescence
Lacks a central axis that dominates the lateral branches, unlike racemose inflorescence, where the central axis is continually growing and is the dominant central axis. Many begonias have cymose inflorescence
Deciduous
Falling off at the end of one season of growth, as the leaves of non-evergreen trees; not persistent
Decussate
Opposite leaves arranged with each succeeding pair at right angles to the pairs below and above them
Deeply Cordate
Blade base that has two equal rounded lobes forming a very pronounced sinus or notched part of a heart Ex. B. squamipes
Dehiscence, loculicidal
The slit openings for seed dispersion are located at the (mid) surface of the locules of the fruit
Dehiscence, septicidal
The slit openings for seed dispersion are located at the septals (the membranes that divide the ovary into locules) of the fruit
Dehiscent
The process of opening or breaking open at maturity to release the contents, as in fruits or seeds, and anthers (compare indehiscent)
Dentate
A leaf margin that has sharp, spreading, coarse teeth that point away or upwards from the main vein instead of slanting forward or towards the tip of the leaf. The teeth can be straight sided or concave but come to a point
Denticulate
A leaf margin with very small teeth, or finely dentate, in that the teeth point upright along the margin but are finer than dentate
Determinate
An inflorescence where the terminal flowers blooms first, halting any further elongation or growth of the main axis
Dichasium, compound
The enlargement from a simple dichasium by the repeated dichotomous branching one or more times
Dichasium; dichasial
A cymose inflorescence where each axis produces two opposite or subopposite lateral axes, plural is dichasia
View Illustration
Dioecious
A plant bearing flowers of only one sex; unisexual, having each one of the pistallate and the staminate flowers on different plants (compare monoecious)
Disjunct
Occurring in widely separated geographic areas, distinctly separate; applies to a discontinuous range where one or more populations are sufficiently separated to prevent gene flow, interbreeding between them
Elliptic
Shaped like a flattened circle or narrow oval, symmetrical both on the long and the short axis, and tapering equally to the tip and the base; oval
Even
The surface of the leaf is flat or has no roughness, elevations or depressions. Example: B. dichroa
Ex situ
Outside, off-site, or away from the natural position. As applied to biological species, this would be species grown or kept in a laboratory, a collection, an aquarium, a zoo, or a botanical garden, or seed or germplasm stored in a bank
Fertile
Seed bearing, when the term is applied to seed, it means seed which are capable of producing plants
Fleshy
Thick, firm, juicy (succulent) and often brittle (breaks or cracks easily when the leaf is bent) texture
Flexuous
Having a gentle bending direction, alternately in opposite directions such as inwards and outwards
Floccose
(Felted) having locks of soft wooly hairs that rub off easily, like tomentose but scattered in tufts
Form
In taxonomy, one of the secondary subdivisions below variety which is below species, based on a single morphological difference
Genus
Classification of plants with common distinguishing characteristics; main subdivision of plant family; plural genera
Gynoecium
The reproductive portion of a female flower, the pistil, stigma, and style of a female flower View Illustration
Hastate
A triangular, arrowhead shape with the basal lobes turned slightly flaring outward making the base look truncate
Herbaceous
Plants with no persistent woody stems above ground including many perennials and nearly all annuals and biennials
Hiemalis
A group of hybrid begonias derived from a cross of a winter flowering B. socotrana and a summer flowering tuberous Begonia tuberhybrida, often called Elatior begonias (the Elatior strain is now largely forgotten), but now the name Rieger applies to them all
Hispid
Bearing long, dense, erect harshly stiff or rigid hairs, but somewhat flexuous, like setose but more dense
Holotype
The single specimen designated as the type of a species by the original author at the time the species name and description was published
Hooded
Capped, as in Begonia anthers where tissue from the sides of the pollen sac forms a cap or hood over the point of dehiscence, where the content or pollen is released
Hybrid
The progeny resulting from cross-fertilization of two genetically different individuals that may be two different cultivars or two different species or the selfing of a cultivar
In situ
Latin for “in its original place or position”. For plants, that would be their original natural habitat where they grow in the wild
Incision Arrangement
The sinuses of the blade margin can be Palmate where the arrangement is divided so sinuses point to the umbo, or Pinnate where it is divided into lateral segments, sinuses point to the midrib, or Pedate where it is divided palmately, but side lobes gain divided, sinuses not pointing to umbo
Incision Depth
Sinuses cut within the first third of the distance from the perimeter to the umbo is called a Lobed Blade, and where the sinuses cut to the middle third of the distance from the perimeter to the umbo is called Cleft Blade, and when the sinuses cut to the inner third of the distance from the perimeter to the umbo, but not quite to mid-vein or the petiole, this is a Parted Blade
Incision Type
The sinuses or indentations of the margin of a leaf blade that divide it into segments called lobes; Lacerate type is not uniform, size of lobes and depth of sinus irregular, and Incised type is where the sinuses are regular, lobes and sinuses rather uniform
Indehiscent
Of a pod or fruit that does not open at all or not splitting in a regular manner when ripe and ready to release its seeds
Indeterminate Inflorescence
Racemes where the oldest flowers are borne towards the base and new flowers are produced as the shoot grows, with no predetermined growth limit
Inferior
As is seen in Begonia flowers, an ovary that is found beneath the point where the sepals, petals, and stamens attach; completely below, beneath, or in the lower part
Inflorescence
A group or cluster of flowers and their branching system, including bracts and bracteoles.
View Illustration
Inflorescence dichotomous at base
Cluster of flowers having branching system with divisions in pairs at the base
Lanceolate
Narrow pointed leaf, wider at the base or bottom, tapering to a point at the apex or tip
View Illustration
Leaf Tip
Leaf tip (apex) types are determined by the angle they form, by the pointedness of the tip, and by the curving either convex or concave towards the tip
Lianescent Begonias
Plants that climb, supported by adventitious roots, different from less efficient climbing scandent plants where they grow upwards using any nearby supports
Lobe; lobate; lobulate; lobed
With sinuses (incisions) less than halfway (usually within the first third) from the margin to the umbo
Long Acuminate Apex
A leaf apex that starts out straight or convex then changes to concave and gradually comes to a point and the angle it makes is less than 60 degrees. If the angle is more than 90 degrees that it is a short acuminate apex
Lunate
Shaped like the moon in its first or last quarter when it appears to have one concave edge and on convex edge
Marcescent
Regarding stipule persistence, when stipules wither but don’t fall off until long after the leaf matures
Membranous
Regarding stipule texture, consisting of or resembling a thin and semi-transparent layer of tissue
Monopodial; monopodium
Having growth and elongation of the stem from a single point, continuing indefinitely, adding leaves to the apex with no branching. Unlike sympodial where the terminal bud ceases to grow and the growth is continued from a lateral bud. In pseudo monopodial, a plant has a primary stem with sympodial growth and secondary stems with monopodial growth
Monotypic
The sole member of its group, such as a single species that constitutes a section, used especially of a genus with only one species
Muricate
Surface with uniform, low obtuse, rounded projections or excrescences, examples: B. ‘Pebble Lane’, B. muricata, B. ‘Black Raspberry’
Neotropics
The region southward from the Tropic of Cancer, including southern Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies
Nerves
A strand of conducting and strengthening tissue in a lamina that run longitudinally and add strength to the lamina, ribs, frequently incorrectly used for veins
Oblique
With unequal sides, especially a leaf base; petiole attachment where the midrib extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the petiole, Ex. B. rex
Oblique Acute
A leaf base that is a combination of oblique and acute, meaning sharply tapering to a point but two sides unequal
Oblique Base
A leaf base that has unequally sided lobes, can be used in conjunction with other base descriptions
Obovate
A leaf shape where the broadest part is above the middle, oval shape with narrower end near the base, reverse egg shape
Obtuse Apex
A leaf apex (tip) that has an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees and has sides that are reasonably straight with the angle. If the apex is pointed it is a sharply obtuse apex, and if the apex is rounded off, it is a rounded obtuse apex
Opposed
With two leaves or other part originating at one point, but located on opposite sides of the axis
Palmate
Lobed, veined or divided from a common point, like the fingers of a hand, with the sinuses between the lobes pointing to the umbo
Palmate-Pinnate Venation
When the primary leaf veins diverging from the umbo have secondary veins arranged along each primary, paired oppositely like a feather
Palmately
Compound Leaf composed of many leaflets connected from a common point, in a palm-like manner
Parietal Placentation
Ovules that are borne on the inner sides of the ovary wall or on outgrowths of that wall
Parted Leaf
A leaf with Incisions or sinuses that cut to the inner third of the distance from the perimeter to the umbo, but not quite to the mid-vein or the petiole Ex. B. crassicaulis, B. mananjenbensis
Peduncle, Pedunculate
Main flower stalk supporting either a cluster or a solitary flower (compare pedicel)
View Illustration
Peltate
A leaf with a petiole attached to the lower surface of the blade (leaf) rather than the margin, or at the base of the leaf, which would be basifixed. Outline of the leaf shape is immaterial. View Illustration
Perianth
The collective term for both the petals and the sepals; in Begonia these two organs may look similar
View Illustration
Petal
One of the separate parts of the corolla (a group of petals); usually attractively colored or white
View Illustration
Petiole
Leaf stalk that provides support between the main stem and the blade (leaf), is usually wider where it joins the stem to provide strength at that point and has additional strengthening structures along its length to help support the blade
Petiole Apex
Top end of the petiole or leaf stalk, where the petiole attaches to the blade, that is, at the umbo
Phenology
The study of cyclical and seasonal natural phenomena, especially as it relates to climate and plant and animal life
Picotee
A flower that has petals that are characterized by having a dark color only on the edge of the petals, the petals are slightly serrated or fringed at the edge, as in many tuberous, Begonia flowers
Pinnate
Resembling a feather, having parts or branches arranged on each side of a common axis, a compound leaf having leaflets growing opposite each other in pairs on either side of the rachis or prolongation of the petiole
Pinnate Venation
With one somewhat central midrib having secondary veins paired oppositely arranged along it, like a feather
Pinnatifid
Leaves with pinnate lobes that are not discrete and remain sufficiently connected to each other that they are not separate leaflets
Pinnatisect
A leaf shape where the lobes or clefts are nearly to the midrib in narrow divisions but do not form separate leaflets
Pistil
The stigma, style, and ovary of a female flower; the female reproductive organs. The ovary supports a long style topped by a stigma, the part of the pistil that receives and germinates the pollen from the male flower, and the ovary, the enlarged basal portion of the pistil, is where the ovules or seed are produced
View Illustration
Placenta
The portion of the female flower’s ovary bearing the ovules (immature seeds). Plural is placentae
Placentation, axile with bifid placentae
Ovules attached to the central axis or partitions of the ovary but each placenta is deeply divided into two
Placentation, axile, with entire placentae
Ovules or seeds, attached to the central partitions of the ovary that has multiple locules or compartments with the placenta not lobed
Placentation, parietal with branched placentae
Ovules are borne on the ovary wall or on outgrowths of the wall
Propagule
A seed, spore, or vegetative portion of a plant, such as an offshoot, that may produce a new plant
Protendrous
In monoecious plants, the maturing of anthers (on staminate flowers reach anthesis and shed pollen), before the stigma on pistillate flowers reach maturity
Protogynous
In monoecious plants, when the pistillate flowers are receptive to pollen before the pollen is shed from the staminate flowers
Pustulate
Where surface has numerous uniform acute elevations, like pimples e.g., B. ‘Emerald Jewel’, or Foveolate where the surface is pitted with shallow distinct depressions e.g., B. ‘Tom Ment’
Raceme
An unbranched, elongated inflorescence with pedicellate flowers maturing from the bottom upward, an indeterminate single axis type of inflorescence
Racemiform
An inflorescence with the general appearance, but not necessarily the structure, of a true raceme
Rachis
The main axis of a structure such as on a compound leaf where the leaflets are attached, or on an inflorescence
Rex
A type of Begonia that is grown for its multicolored leaves. All Rex culturum types are descended from the Indian species B. rex that has been crossed with other types of rhizomatous begonias
Rhizomatous
Begonias possessing rhizomes, these are easy-care plants with interesting leaves, growing year-round, and having flower clusters that stick out above the foliage like clouds. Ex. B. ‘Erythrophylla’
Rhizome
A persistent stem that grows on, or under the ground, with nodes and internodes producing roots on the underside when it touches the soil, or stems or shoots above ground
Rugose
Surface covered with a network of veins (reticulated) with the spaces between them convex (wrinkled) with irregularly curving, inward or outward, elevations Examples: B. rajah, B. goegoensis
Sagittate
Leaf that is triangular, arrowhead shaped, with its basal lobes pointing downward, unlike hastate
Scabrous
Covered with scattered short, rigid or harsh hairs that are not erect, often not visible without magnification but evident to touch
Section (sectio)
1. A taxonomic category intermediate in rank between subgenus and species. The subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of series, if present, is below the section. Sections can be further divided into subsections.
2. The cutting a piece of plant tissue in order to see its internal structure
Seed
A ripened, fertile ovule made up of a protective coat enclosing an embryo and food reserves. In begonias, these are tiny golden barrels ranging in size from .25 to .75mm long. Typically, Begonia species produce between 100-600 seeds per seed capsule
Semi-inferior
On an ovary, where the lower part is inferior, but the upper part is free and projects over the perianth. This is rare in the plant kingdom but only found in the Begonia relative Hillebrandia sandwicensis
Semperflorens
A type of Begonia that is probably the most widely grown, in some parts of the country are called “wax type” because of the waxy look to their leaves, grown mostly as bedding plants and treated as annuals, but are really a perennial shrub type in areas that do not freeze
Sepal
One segment of the calyx; usually green in most plants, found just below or under the petals, but in begonias it is usually attractively colored or white and can be indistinguishable from the petals themselves
View Illustration
Serrate
A leaf margin with sharp saw-like teeth that point forward or slant towards the apex or tip of the leaf
Sessile
A leaf with base attached directly to the stem or peduncle without a petiole or pedicel; stalkless
Short Acuminate Apex
A leaf apex that starts out straight or convex then changes to concave and gradually comes to a point and the angle it makes is greater than 90 degrees. If the angle is less than 60 degrees that it is a long acuminate apex
Shrub
Begonias characterized by growing upright on branching stems, some have hairy, velvet-like leaf surfaces while others are distinguished by leaf coloring never seen anywhere else. Ex. B. ‘Brevirimosa’, B. venosa, B. lyallii f. Masoalensis, B. polliloensis
Simple
Having or being composed of only one thing; scarcely divided or branched at all; an elementary shape
Simple Dichasium
A determinate inflorescence with a simple cluster of three flowers arising from a common peduncle by dichotomous branching
Simple leaf
Leaf with one blade per petiole Ex. Peltate: B. ferramica, B. letouzeyi, Basifixed: B. dioica, B. multistaminea
Sinuate
A leaf margin that has a strongly wavy or uneven edge that turns inwards and outwards but is not lobed
Sinus
The cleft, depression, space, or recess between two lobes or deep incisions of a leaf or petal
View Illustration
Spiral
Winding in a continuous and gradually widening (or tightening) curve, either around a central point on a flat plane or about an axis so as to form a cone
Stamen
The male reproductive organ of a flower that produces pollen and consists of an anther and filament
View Illustration
Stem
A stalk bearing nodes, supports leaves, buds, flowers, or fruit, and is usually found above ground
Stem Attachment
How the petiole and stem connect to the blade (leaf), can be straight, oblique or transverse
Stigma
In the female flower, the top part of the pistil that receives the pollen from the male flower and germinates the pollen prior to fertilization ovule production by the ovary
View Illustration
Stipule
One of a pair of leaf-like appendages found at the base of the petiole. In begonias, they protect a new leaf bud until they split and the new leaf unfolds with its stem (petiole). Caducous fall off early after leaf emerges, Persistent hang on for a while, Marcescent ones dry up but stay in place
Stolon
A shoot that bends to, or runs along either above or below the ground and takes root giving rise to a new plant at the nodes or tip
Straight Leaf Position
The blade position relative to the petiole where the midrib or midnerve of the blade continues in a straight line with the petiole, Ex. B. cucullata
Subspecies
A taxonomic category within species, where there may be a few morphological or genetic distinctions within the same species and a big difference in their geographic distribution. Its taxonomic rank is between species and variety
Suffrutescent stems
Stems that are woody at the base that survive from year to year, with herbaceous distal portions
Symmetric; symmetry
Divided into similarly identical or mirror-image parts; near repetition of the pattern element either by reflection or rotation
Sympodial
Type of 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
Tepal
In begonias, when the calyx and corolla cannot be differentiated, the petal-like structures are then called tepals. Perianth is the collective name for the sepal and petals when they can be differentiated, and in begonias though these two may look similar, each can be identified anatomically
Terete
Cylindrical, or slight tapering in form, and circular in cross section, many Begonias have terete petioles; circular and columnar as in plant stems
Thick-stemmed
Group of begonias with overly thick upright stems, that don’t branch much, but send up new growth from the base, and then drop their lower leaves and usually only have leaves on the tips Ex. B. ludwigii, B. sulcata, B. ulmifolia
Tomentose
Thickly covered with densely matted wool-like hair, curled and appressed, hairs rub off easily
Trailing-Scandent
Group of begonias named for their growth habit, they grow to some length over the ground and climb, some have glossy leaves that look like a philodendron, but others grow large leaves, and in their native habitat climb up tree trunks, most have white or pink flowers Ex. B. thelmae, B. glabra, B. elaeagnifolia
Transverse
Cross wise, crossing from side to side, at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of a structure; petiole attachment where the midrib is almost at a 90 degree angle with the petiole, Ex. B. amphioxus
Truncate Apex
A leaf apex (tip) that is flat, appearing as if the leaf apex was cut off straight across at a 180 degree angle
Tuber, tubercule, tuberculate
A thick, fleshy portion of stem base, rhizome, that bares nodes and buds; underground stem that serves as food storage
Tuberous
Producing or baring tubers; a variety of begonias that have a thick fleshy root base, Ex. B. partita, B. bogneri, as well as double flowered complex hybrids that are popular as a bedding or a greenhouse plant whose flowers can be a small two inches, up to dinner plate size Ex. tuberhybrida, and Non-Stop varieties
Type Specimen
A specimen selected to serve as a reference point when a plant species is first named. These specimens are extremely important to botanists who are attempting to determine the correct application of a name
Umbel
Pedicels arising from the same point, an indeterminate, usually flat-topped or convex inflorescence where the pedicels arise from the same point
Umbo
The place on the blade or leaf where the petiole is attached, when peltate the umbo is not on the margin of the blade Ex. B. venosa, when basifixed or non-peltate, the umbo is on the margin or outer edge of the blade Ex. B. kellermanii
Undulate
A leaf margin that is wavy from the horizontal or side view of the leaf. This is unlike the other leaf margins which are described and viewed while looking down at the surface of the leaf. With a somewhat wavy margin but not so deeply or pronounced as sinuate
Variety (var.)
A taxonomic subdivision below that of species and between the ranks of subspecies and form, based on one or more morphological and genetic differences, and is slightly geographically separated from other members of the same species
Venation
The pattern of veining on a leaf blade, three types Palmate radiates from one point near the stem, Pinnate branches off a central rib that runs the length of the leaf, and Palmately Pinnate which is basically palmate but with each main vein having pinnate branches.
Vestite, vestiture
Surface covering or vestiture of blade/leaf, either Scale, Paleae, Gland, Indument, or Trichome
Villous, villi
Having moderately long, soft, somewhat shaggy, but unmatted, and not necessarily straight hairs
Whorl, whorled
An arrangement of three or more (verticil) leaves, sepals, petals, stamens, or carpels that radiate from a single point and surround or wrap around the stem or stalk. In a typical flower, the four main parts or whorls are known as the calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium
Wing
In Begonia, a flat protrusion with a pointed or rounded tip that may number three or four, each found behind a pistillate, or female flower’s ovary
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