Native Plants
Glossary of commonly used botanical terms and their definitions.
term | definition | image |
Acaulescent | Without a distinct stem. | |
Achene | A dry, usually one-seeded, indehiscent fruit. | |
Acorn | A usually one-seeded (occasionally two-seeded) nut enclosed in a hard, leathery shell and subtended by a scaly cup. The fruit of any species in the genera, Quercus or Lithocarpus. | |
Actinomorphic | Refers to flowers that can be divided into equal halves along any axis (radially symmetric). | |
Acuminate | Gradually tapering to a point. | |
Acute | Pointed apex with margins that form an angle between 45 and 90 degrees. | |
AGCP | Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain - NWPL Region | |
Aggregate | Fruit developed from multiple pistils in a single flower, e.g. raspberry (Rubus spp.). | |
Alternate | Placed singly at different heights on the stem; not opposite or whorled. | alternate.jpg |
Androecium | Collective term for the stamens of one flower. | |
Anemophilous | Wind pollinated. | |
Annual | A species that grows from seed, flowers, fruits and dies within one year's time. See also, Winter Annual. | |
Anther | The specialized, pollen-bearing structure of a plant's flower. | |
Apex | The topmost or distal portion of a plant or plant part. | |
Apical | Situated at or near the tip. | |
Apiculate | Ending abruptly with a sharp, flexible tip. | |
Appressed | Pressed or lying flat against something. | |
Areole | A spot in the form of a pit or a raised area on the surface of a cactus through which spines or other structures grow. | |
Aril | An outer covering or appendage of some seeds. | |
Aristate | Ending in a stiff, bristle-like point. | |
Asymmetric | Lacking symmetry, e.g., the two halves of a leaf blade not alike. | |
Attenuate | A tapering leaf base with concave margins that form an angle less than 45 degrees. | |
AW | Arid West - NWPL Region | |
Axil | The upper angle between two structures or organs, as where a leaf or branch joins the stem. | |
Axillary | Growing from an axil. | |
Bark | Tough outer covering of trunks or stems of trees, shrubs, and vines. | |
Basal leaves | The leaves that are concentrated near the base of the main stem. | |
Beard | A tuft or line of hairs, as on certain petals. | |
Berry | A fleshy, indehiscent fruit with few to many seeds. | |
Biennial | A plant that takes two years to complete the flowering cycle. Typically it grows vegetatively the first year and flowers and fruits during the second year before dying. | |
Bilateral symmetry | Usually referencing flower structure, descripes a plant part or parts that may be divided along a single plane forming two mirror-image halves; zygomorphic, irregular flower. | |
Bipinnate | Twice-pinnate. | |
Bisexual | A flower with both stamens and pistils. | |
Bract | A reduced or modified leaf occurring at the base of a flower or group of flowers. Bracts are sometimes arranged in rows, like shingles on a roof, usually closely cupping the blossoms of Asteraceae (Sunflower Family); cf. Phyllary. Sometimes brightly colored or petallike, as in Castilleja spp. (paintbrush), or threadlike, as in Daucus carota (Queen Anne's Lace). | |
Branchlet | A small branch. | |
Bristly | Having stiff, rigid, rather thick hairs on the surface of stems or leaves. | |
Bud | A small cell-mass in the process of dividing from a stem to form a flower, leaf or another stem. | |
Bulb | A thick, rounded, underground organ consisting of layered, fleshy leaves and membranes. | |
Cactus/Succulent | A plant having leaves and/or stems which are thick and fleshy. | |
Calyx | The sepals taken collectively. These may be distinct, or joined to form a cup or tube; they may be of any color but are usually green. When the calyx is present, it encloses the other parts of the flower in bud. | |
Campanulate | Bell-shaped. | |
Capitulescence | The inflorescence of a capitulum-bearing plant as in many species in Asteraceae. | |
Capitulum | An inflorescence composed of multiple florets arranged in a flower head and surrounded by an involucre of bracts as found on many species in Asteraceae. | |
Capsule | A dry fruit that splits open along three or more lines. | capsule.jpg |
Caryopsis | A dry, one-seeded fruit (achene) with ovary wall united to the seed coat, characteristic of grasses. | |
Catkin | A spikelike flower cluster that bears scaly bracts and petalless, unisexual flowers. | |
Caudate | Tapering gradually into a long taillike tip | |
Clasping | Leaf partially encircles the stem. | |
Complete flower | A flower with sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil present. | |
Compound | A leaf divided into two or more leaflets. | |
term | definition | image |