A Flashcards
a-
Prefix meaning without, lacking; e.g., apetalous
abaxial
lower surface
abcission
separation of one structure from another, as with leaf from stem or petal from flower receptacle; the result of cells breaking down at the base of the falling structure.
acaulescent
lacking an above-ground stem
Antonym: caulescent
accessory fruit
fruit whose flesh is partially or wholly derived from non-ovary tissue (often from the receptacle); e.g., strawberries (Fragaria)
accrescent
growing larger after flower maturity, most often applied to the calyx
acerose
three-dimensional needle-shaped
Synonym: acicular
achene
small, dry, indehiscent fruit derived from a unicarpellate pistil; e.g., clematis (Clematis)
achlorophyllous
lacking chlorophyll; e.g., parasitic plants such as Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
acicular
three-dimensionally needle-shaped
Synonym: acerose
acidophilous
acid-loving, as with many plants that grow better in acidic soil
acorn
the nut fruit of oaks (Quercus), which is embedded in a scaly cup and has a single seed
acropetal
growing toward the tip of the shoot or root
Antonym: basipetal
actinomorphic
having multiple planes of symmetry such that any line drawn through the middle produces two mirror-image halves, usually applied to flowers
Synonym: radially symmetrical, regular
Antonym:bilaterally symmetrical, irregular, zygomorphic
aculeate
having prickles
acuminate
tapering to a point with concave margins
Concave: curving in
acute
pointed with the sides straight or nearly so and forming a <90 degree angle, applied to both the base and apex of leaves
adaxial
upper surface
adherent
unlike structures stuck together but not fused
adnate
unlike structures fused together, as stamens to petals
adventitious
structures arising in areas other than those in which they normally occur, most often applied to roots arising from shoots or leaves
adventive
relatively recently escaped and spreading non-native species; less established than naturalized species
aerial
occurring or produced above the soil or water; e.g., aerial roots
aerial bulb
bud usually produced in leaf axils that can give rise to a new plant; e.g., plantlets on cycad trunks
Synonym: bulbel, bulbil
aerial root
root produced above ground, such as those produced along the climbing stem of poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
aestivation, estivation
arrangement of perianth parts in bud; see also vernation
vernation: arrangement of leaves in bud
Synonym: ptyxis
afterripening
period of rest (also called dormancy) that some seeds must go through before being able to germinate
agamospermy
production of viable seeds without fertilization, without sexual reproduction
aggregate fruit
formed from the fusion of multiple, separate unicarpellate pistils in a single flower, may consist of tiny versions of one of many different fruit types including samaras, drupes, achenes, follicles, etc.; e.g., raspberries and blackberries (Rubus)
Synonym: etaerio
air plant
a plant that grows attached to another plant but which does not parasitize that plant, often specifically refers to epiphytic bromeliads in the genus Tillandsia
alate
winged with expanded and flattened tissue; e.g, stems and fruits of winged elm (Ulmus alata) and stems of winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
allelopathy
phenomenon in which a plant secretes compounds that interfere with the growth, reproduction, or continued survival of other plants around it; e.g., black walnut (Juglans nigra)
allopatric
occurring in different areas, as with two species whose distributions do not overlap
Antonym: sympatric
alpine plants
plants that grow in high-elevation areas above where trees grow (i.e., above the tree line); these are the plants traditionally and most commonly grown in rock gardens
alternate
- occurring one per node, as with leaves interspersed on a stem,
- occurring one following the other in a series, as with petals alternating with sepals in a flower when viewed from above or below
alternate bearing
producing abundant fruit every other year, and minimal to no fruit in the alternating year
Synonym: biennial bearing
alternipetalous
said of floral parts whose positions in the flower alternate with those of the petals
alternisepalous
said of floral parts whose positions in the flower alternate with those of the sepals
alveolate
honeycomb-like with neatly arranged depressions and ridges
Synonym- faveolate, favose
ament
usually pendulous spike-like inflorescence of unisexual, sessile to subsessile, apetalous flowers
Synonym: catkin
amplexicaul
clasping the stem without fully encircling it, as with a leaf, stipule, or bract
ampulla
bottle-shaped or spherical swelling
anastomosing
reconnection of branches resulting in the formation of a network; e.g., reticulate venation
anchor root
adventitious root emerging from the lower part of a trunk and acting as a structural support for a tree
Synonym: brace root, prop root, stilt root
ancipital
flattened, with two edges
androecium
male reproductive portion of the flower, consists of stamens
androgynophore
stalk elevating the androecium and gynoecium above the perianth, as in passionflowers (Passiflora)
androphore
stalk bearing the stamens
anemophilous
pollinated by wind
angiosperm
plant bearing flowers that have ovules inside of ovaries that develop into seeds inside of fruits
anisomerous
having an unequal number of parts in the floral whorls
anisophyllous
opposite leaves of unequal size and/or shape
annual
plant whose entire life cycle occurs in one year: it grows from seed, flowers, produces seeds, and dies
annular
shaped like a ring, as in a nectary disk
annulus
line of cells along the sporangium wall that plays an important role in sporangium dehiscence and spore dispersal in ferns
antepetalous, antipetalous
directly in front of the petals, as with stamens occurring opposite the petals, not alternating with them
antesepalous, antisepalous
directly in front of the sepals, as with stamens occurring opposite the sepals, not alternating with them
anther
pollen-bearing part of stamen
antheridium
(plural antheridia) male, sperm-bearing reproductive structure of ferns, lycophytes, and non-vascular plants
anther sac
one of typically two chambers inside of each anther, usually bears pollen
Synonym: theca
anthesis
peak flower maturity, flower is open and sexually fertile
anthocarp
seed-bearing structure resembling and often mistaken for a fruit but for which the majority of the tissue is non-ovary (may be from such structures as a hypanthium or receptacle);e.g., rose hips (Rosa)
Synonym: false fruit, pseudocarp
anthocyanin
blue,red, and purple pigments in plants, type of flavonoid, water-soluble
anthophore
stalk between the point of attachment of the calyx and the rest of the flower (corolla, androecium, gynoecium)
anthoxanthin
white and yellow pigments in plants, type of flavonoid, water soluble
ant-plant
a plant that has a mutualistic relationship with ants
Synonym: myrmecophyte
antrorse
pointing up or toward the apex
Antonym: retrorse
aperture
opening, specifically refers to those in the exile of pollen grains
apetalous
lacking petals
apex
(plural apices) tip; opposite the base a furthest from point of attachment
Antonym: base
aphyllous
lacking leaves
apical
at or of the apex, as in apical placentation
apical dominance
terminal bud’s control over vertical growth of the main stem and elongating growth of branches by growing more vigorously than, and limiting, the growth of lateral buds; this phenomenon gives rise to the typical for of trees
apiculate
coming to an abrupt, short point
apiculum, apiculus
an abrupt p, short point
apo-
prefix meaning apart, detached, or separate
apocarpous
gynoecium consisting of two to many separate, unfused carpels (simple pistils)
Antonym: syncarpous
apomictic
reproducing asexually from the flower or fruit, often used synonymously with agamospermy
apomixis
asexual reproduction involving the flower or fruit, often used synonymously with agamospermy
appendage
structure arising from another, larger, structure
appressed
close against another structure but not fused to it
aquatic
plant growing in water seasonally or continuously
arborescent
tree-like in form but not a true tree; e.g., banana (Musa), which is an herbaceous plant with a trunk made up of leaf bases
archegonium
(plural archegonia) female, egg- bearing reproductive structure of ferns, lycophytes, and non-vascular plants
arctic
growing north of the arctic circle
arcuate
arching or curved;e.g., arcuate venation
areola
small area distinct from nearby areas; in leaves, the space created by the joining of veins; in the cactus family (Cactaceae), the area on the stem that produces spines, gkochids, flowers, etc.
aril, arillus
fleshy outgrowth of the funicle or hilum, subtending to encompassing a seed;e.g., lychee (Litchi chinensis) and yews (Taxus)
arista
a bristle, usually terminating a leaf or other structure
Synonym awn
aristate
terminating in a long bristle
armature
prickles, spines, thorns,etc.
articulation
notch or joint, often the location at which two sides or organs separate
ascending
pointing or growing upward in an arching or curving fashion
ascidiate
pitcher-shaped, as in the water-holding leaves of pitcher plants (Sarracenia)
asepalous
lacking sepals
asexual
without sex, as with individuals or reproduction
asymmetrical
having two sides or halves that are unequal in size and/or shape, usually applied to leaf bases
Synonym: oblique
atropurpurea
dark purple
attenuate
gradually narrowing to a point
auricle
earlobe-shaped appendage, as in some leaf bases
auriculate
earlobe-shaped; having auricles
Synonym: eared
autogamy
self-pollination, self-compatibility
awn
a bristle, usually terminating a leaf or other structure
Synonym: arista
axil
upper angle of the junction between a stem and another stem, leaf, or reproductive structure
axile
- Of the axis;
2. attached to the axis , as in axile placentation
axillary
at the junction between a stem and another stem or another organ, most often used in reference to buds
axis
central vertical portion of a structure, to which parts of that structure are often attached, as with an inflorescence and its branches or a flower and its whorls
