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Botanist Vocab > A > Flashcards

A Flashcards

1
Q

a-

A

Prefix meaning without, lacking; e.g., apetalous

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2
Q

abaxial

A

lower surface

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3
Q

abcission

A

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.

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4
Q

acaulescent

A

lacking an above-ground stem

Antonym: caulescent

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5
Q

accessory fruit

A

fruit whose flesh is partially or wholly derived from non-ovary tissue (often from the receptacle); e.g., strawberries (Fragaria)

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6
Q

accrescent

A

growing larger after flower maturity, most often applied to the calyx

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7
Q

acerose

A

three-dimensional needle-shaped

Synonym: acicular

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8
Q

achene

A

small, dry, indehiscent fruit derived from a unicarpellate pistil; e.g., clematis (Clematis)

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9
Q

achlorophyllous

A 
lacking chlorophyll; e.g., parasitic plants such as 
Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
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10
Q

acicular

A

three-dimensionally needle-shaped

Synonym: acerose

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11
Q

acidophilous

A

acid-loving, as with many plants that grow better in acidic soil

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12
Q

acorn

A

the nut fruit of oaks (Quercus), which is embedded in a scaly cup and has a single seed

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13
Q

acropetal

A

growing toward the tip of the shoot or root

Antonym: basipetal

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14
Q

actinomorphic

A

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

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15
Q

aculeate

A

having prickles

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16
Q

acuminate

A

tapering to a point with concave margins

Concave: curving in

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17
Q

acute

A

pointed with the sides straight or nearly so and forming a <90 degree angle, applied to both the base and apex of leaves

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18
Q

adaxial

A

upper surface

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19
Q

adherent

A

unlike structures stuck together but not fused

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20
Q

adnate

A

unlike structures fused together, as stamens to petals

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21
Q

adventitious

A

structures arising in areas other than those in which they normally occur, most often applied to roots arising from shoots or leaves

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22
Q

adventive

A

relatively recently escaped and spreading non-native species; less established than naturalized species

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23
Q

aerial

A

occurring or produced above the soil or water; e.g., aerial roots

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24
Q

aerial bulb

A

bud usually produced in leaf axils that can give rise to a new plant; e.g., plantlets on cycad trunks
Synonym: bulbel, bulbil

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25
Q

aerial root

A

root produced above ground, such as those produced along the climbing stem of poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

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26
Q

aestivation, estivation

A

arrangement of perianth parts in bud; see also vernation

vernation: arrangement of leaves in bud
Synonym: ptyxis

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27
Q

afterripening

A

period of rest (also called dormancy) that some seeds must go through before being able to germinate

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28
Q

agamospermy

A

production of viable seeds without fertilization, without sexual reproduction

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29
Q

aggregate fruit

A

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

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30
Q

air plant

A

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

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31
Q

alate

A

winged with expanded and flattened tissue; e.g, stems and fruits of winged elm (Ulmus alata) and stems of winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus)

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32
Q

allelopathy

A

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)

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33
Q

allopatric

A

occurring in different areas, as with two species whose distributions do not overlap
Antonym: sympatric

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34
Q

alpine plants

A

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

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35
Q

alternate

A
  1. occurring one per node, as with leaves interspersed on a stem,
  2. occurring one following the other in a series, as with petals alternating with sepals in a flower when viewed from above or below
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36
Q

alternate bearing

A

producing abundant fruit every other year, and minimal to no fruit in the alternating year

Synonym: biennial bearing

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37
Q

alternipetalous

A

said of floral parts whose positions in the flower alternate with those of the petals

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38
Q

alternisepalous

A

said of floral parts whose positions in the flower alternate with those of the sepals

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39
Q

alveolate

A

honeycomb-like with neatly arranged depressions and ridges

Synonym- faveolate, favose

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40
Q

ament

A

usually pendulous spike-like inflorescence of unisexual, sessile to subsessile, apetalous flowers
Synonym: catkin

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41
Q

amplexicaul

A

clasping the stem without fully encircling it, as with a leaf, stipule, or bract

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42
Q

ampulla

A

bottle-shaped or spherical swelling

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43
Q

anastomosing

A

reconnection of branches resulting in the formation of a network; e.g., reticulate venation

44
Q

anchor root

A

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

45
Q

ancipital

A

flattened, with two edges

46
Q

androecium

A

male reproductive portion of the flower, consists of stamens

47
Q

androgynophore

A

stalk elevating the androecium and gynoecium above the perianth, as in passionflowers (Passiflora)

48
Q

androphore

A

stalk bearing the stamens

49
Q

anemophilous

A

pollinated by wind

50
Q

angiosperm

A

plant bearing flowers that have ovules inside of ovaries that develop into seeds inside of fruits

51
Q

anisomerous

A

having an unequal number of parts in the floral whorls

52
Q

anisophyllous

A

opposite leaves of unequal size and/or shape

53
Q

annual

A

plant whose entire life cycle occurs in one year: it grows from seed, flowers, produces seeds, and dies

54
Q

annular

A

shaped like a ring, as in a nectary disk

55
Q

annulus

A

line of cells along the sporangium wall that plays an important role in sporangium dehiscence and spore dispersal in ferns

56
Q

antepetalous, antipetalous

A

directly in front of the petals, as with stamens occurring opposite the petals, not alternating with them

57
Q

antesepalous, antisepalous

A

directly in front of the sepals, as with stamens occurring opposite the sepals, not alternating with them

58
Q

anther

A

pollen-bearing part of stamen

59
Q

antheridium

A

(plural antheridia) male, sperm-bearing reproductive structure of ferns, lycophytes, and non-vascular plants

60
Q

anther sac

A

one of typically two chambers inside of each anther, usually bears pollen
Synonym: theca

61
Q

anthesis

A

peak flower maturity, flower is open and sexually fertile

62
Q

anthocarp

A

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

63
Q

anthocyanin

A

blue,red, and purple pigments in plants, type of flavonoid, water-soluble

64
Q

anthophore

A

stalk between the point of attachment of the calyx and the rest of the flower (corolla, androecium, gynoecium)

65
Q

anthoxanthin

A

white and yellow pigments in plants, type of flavonoid, water soluble

66
Q

ant-plant

A

a plant that has a mutualistic relationship with ants

Synonym: myrmecophyte

67
Q

antrorse

A

pointing up or toward the apex

Antonym: retrorse

68
Q

aperture

A

opening, specifically refers to those in the exile of pollen grains

69
Q

apetalous

A

lacking petals

70
Q

apex

A

(plural apices) tip; opposite the base a furthest from point of attachment

Antonym: base

71
Q

aphyllous

A

lacking leaves

72
Q

apical

A

at or of the apex, as in apical placentation

73
Q

apical dominance

A

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

74
Q

apiculate

A

coming to an abrupt, short point

75
Q

apiculum, apiculus

A

an abrupt p, short point

76
Q

apo-

A

prefix meaning apart, detached, or separate

77
Q

apocarpous

A

gynoecium consisting of two to many separate, unfused carpels (simple pistils)

Antonym: syncarpous

78
Q

apomictic

A

reproducing asexually from the flower or fruit, often used synonymously with agamospermy

79
Q

apomixis

A

asexual reproduction involving the flower or fruit, often used synonymously with agamospermy

80
Q

appendage

A

structure arising from another, larger, structure

81
Q

appressed

A

close against another structure but not fused to it

82
Q

aquatic

A

plant growing in water seasonally or continuously

83
Q

arborescent

A

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

84
Q

archegonium

A

(plural archegonia) female, egg- bearing reproductive structure of ferns, lycophytes, and non-vascular plants

85
Q

arctic

A

growing north of the arctic circle

86
Q

arcuate

A

arching or curved;e.g., arcuate venation

87
Q

areola

A

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.

88
Q

aril, arillus

A

fleshy outgrowth of the funicle or hilum, subtending to encompassing a seed;e.g., lychee (Litchi chinensis) and yews (Taxus)

89
Q

arista

A

a bristle, usually terminating a leaf or other structure

Synonym awn

90
Q

aristate

A

terminating in a long bristle

91
Q

armature

A

prickles, spines, thorns,etc.

92
Q

articulation

A

notch or joint, often the location at which two sides or organs separate

93
Q

ascending

A

pointing or growing upward in an arching or curving fashion

94
Q

ascidiate

A

pitcher-shaped, as in the water-holding leaves of pitcher plants (Sarracenia)

95
Q

asepalous

A

lacking sepals

96
Q

asexual

A

without sex, as with individuals or reproduction

97
Q

asymmetrical

A

having two sides or halves that are unequal in size and/or shape, usually applied to leaf bases

Synonym: oblique

98
Q

atropurpurea

A

dark purple

99
Q

attenuate

A

gradually narrowing to a point

100
Q

auricle

A

earlobe-shaped appendage, as in some leaf bases

101
Q

auriculate

A

earlobe-shaped; having auricles

Synonym: eared

102
Q

autogamy

A

self-pollination, self-compatibility

103
Q

awn

A

a bristle, usually terminating a leaf or other structure

Synonym: arista

104
Q

axil

A

upper angle of the junction between a stem and another stem, leaf, or reproductive structure

105
Q

axile

A
  1. Of the axis;

2. attached to the axis , as in axile placentation

106
Q

axillary

A

at the junction between a stem and another stem or another organ, most often used in reference to buds

107
Q

axis

A

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

Botanist Vocab (3 decks)

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