Native Plants
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BOTANICAL GLOSSARY
Glossary of commonly used botanical terms and their definitions. Use the search bar below to look up a botanical term.
15 Random Botanical Terms
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.
Raceme - An inflorescence in which each flower is attached to the main stalk by a short stem (pedicel). The youngest flowers, at the tip, may continue to develop while those below are forming fruit.
Inferior ovary - An ovary situated below the origin of sepals and petals. In many species the ovary is below the point of attachment of all the other parts of the flower, i.e., embedded in the flower stem. It usually shows as a swelling below the flower and may be seen only by cutting through this swelling.
Emarginate - Having a shallow notch at the tip.
AW - Arid West - NWPL Region
Aristate - Ending in a stiff, bristle-like point.
Catkin - A spikelike flower cluster that bears scaly bracts and petalless, unisexual flowers.
Stipules - Leaflike structures that grow where the leaf is attached to the stem.
Disc flowers - The inner tubular flowers on the heads of Asteraceae (Sunflower Family).
Compound Pistil - A pistil made up of two or more partially or completely united carpels.
Alternate - Placed singly at different heights on the stem; not opposite or whorled.
Lobed leaf - A leaf with indentations not more than halfway to the midrib, with the tips of the segments rounded.
Midrib - The main or central rib or vein of a leaf.
Needle - The long and narrow leaf of pines and related species.
Shoot - A stem or branch and its leaves.