C Flashcards
caducous
quickly deciduous , often applied to flower petals
caespitose, cespitose
growing in dense clusters
Synonym: clumped
calcar
pointed, hollow appendage on a flower, often containing nectar and a projection from or a modification of the perianth
Synonym: spur
calcarate
having a spur
Synonym: spurred
calcareous
- Soils that are high in lime (calcium carbonate)
2. Vegetation that grows on lime-rich soil
calceolate
shaped like a slipper, as in the pouch-like labellum of slipper orchids (Orchidaceae subfamily Cypripedioideae)
calcicole
plant that grows best in calcareous soil
synonym: calciphile, calciphyte
calcifuge
plant that does not grow well (or in some cases at all) in calcareous soil
calciphile, calciphyte
plant that grows best in calcareous soil
synonym: calcicole
caliper
diameter of a tree trunk at six inches above the ground, measured at twelve inches above ground when trunk diameter is greater than four inches
;see also DBH
calloused
having a callus
callus
(plural calluses, calli) 1. hard, thickened tissue;
- shot, thick stalk at the base of the lemme in grasses (Poaceae)
- undifferentiated tissue (parenchyma) often produced in the early stages of plant tissue culture
calyculate
having an epicalyx or similar whirl of bracts subtending the calyx or involucre
calyculus
bracts subtending the flower and appearing as a whirl beyond the calyx
synonym: epicalyx
calyptra
hood or cap, as with the fused calyx of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) or onions (Allium)
calyx
collective term for flower sepals
cambium
lateral meristem that produces cork or vascular tissue (xylem toward the middle and phloem toward the outside) and is thus responsible for the thickening growth of woody stems and roots
campanulate
shaped like a bell
canaliculate
having one or more longitudinal grooves
synonym: channeled
candle
new shoot on a conifer as it’s coming out of bud
cane
- stem of a shrub, usually applied to fruit-bearing plants, e.g., raspberries and blackberries (Rubus) and roses (Rosa)
- grass stem, usually applied to species that produce large, stiff, or woody stems;
- long, thin pseudobulbous stem of some orchids, e.g., Dendrobium
canopy
- upper branching portion of a tree;
2. upper layer of a forest consisting mostly of treetops
capitate
with a compact head, like a pushpin; commonly used to describe stigmas
Capitulum
(plural capitula) inflorescence of sessile flowers borne on a flattened and expanded portion of the inflorescence axis; the inflorescence of the sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Synonym: head
Capsule
- dry, dehiscent multilocular fruit splitting open along one to many lines or locations of dehiscence- may be circumscissile, loculicidal, poricidal, septicidal;
- the spore containing structure (sporangium) of mosses.
Carotene
Yellow, orange, and red pigments in plants, important in photosynthesis, oil-soluble
Carpel
- Primary unit of a pistil, consists of an ovary, style, and stigma and contains ovules. May be solitary in the flower (one simple pistil), or in multiples either free (more than one simple pistil) or fused (compound pistil);
- Megasporophyll of angiosperms
Carpellate
having carpels
carpet-forming
Densely growing prostrate or short-statured plants covering the ground
carpophore
central stalk-like structure from an extended receptacle to thrice carpels are attached, as with some species in the carrot (Apiaceae), geranium (Geraniaceae), and buttercup (Ranunculaceae) families
Cartilaginous
cartilage-like; tough but flexible tissue
Caruncle
Outgrowth of the ovule’s outer integument, visible as a raised area or appendage on the seed coat near the micropyle and hilum
Caruncular
Pertaining to caruncles
Carunculate
having a caruncle
Caryopsis
dry, indehiscent fruit in which the single seed is fused tot he pericarp; fruit of the grass family (Poaceae), derived from a unicarpellate pistil
Synonym: grain
Castaneous
Reddish brown, rust or chestnut colored
Synonym: ferruginous, rufous, rufus
Catkin
Usually pendulous spike-like inflorescence of unisexual, sessile to sub-sessile, apetalous flowers
Synonym: ament
Caudate
Tapering to a long point, with concave margins at the base of the tip
Caudex
(Plural caudices, caudexes)
- Persistent above or at ground portion of herbaceous perennials;
- Main plant axis, the roots and stem;
- Water-storing swollen plant base
Caudiciform
Having a water storing swollen plant base (caudex) from which the stems arise, as with some arid- adapted species in the spurge (Euphorbiaceae), gourd (Cucurbitaceae), and bean (Fabaceae) families
Caulescent
Clearly having an above-ground stem
Antonym: acaulescent
Cauliflorous
Having flowers and fruits borne along the trunk, and/or branches
Cauline
Emerging from or pertaining to the stem, applied most often to leaves
Cell
- Cavity or chamber, as with anther sacs and locules;
2. Smallest unit of organization in organisms
Ceraceous
Waxy physically or visually
Cernuous
Hanging or bent downward, applied most often to flowers
Synonym: nodding
Cespitose, caespitose
Growing in clusters
Synonym: clumped
Chaff
Dry, fine bracts or scales, like those subtending the fruits of the sunflower (Asteraceae) and grass ( Poaceae) families
Chaffy
Having chaff
Chamaephyte
Plant that bears resting or overwintering buds on or near the ground
Chambered
Having multiple cavities, or hollow sections, separated by walls; e.g., pith of black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Channeled
Having one or more longitudinal grooves
Synonym: canaliculate
Chartaceous
Having a papery texture
Chasmogamous
Flowers that are fertilized after opening (at anthesis), generally cross-pollinated
Antonym: cleistogamous
Chimera, chimaera
Plant that contains two different types/strains of DNA, as a result from grafting, genetic engineering, or mutation
Chiropterophilous
Pollinated by bats
Chiropterophily
Bat pollination
Chlorophyll
Green pigment in plants, photosynthetic, fat-soluble
Chlorophyllous
Having chlorophyll
Chlorosis
Yellowing of tissue due to insufficient chlorophyll production, usually caused by nutrient deficiency
Ciliate
With a fringe of hairs extending from the margin
Cincinnus
(plural cincinni) ambiguous term that is variously used as a synonym of helicoid cyme or scorpioid cyme
Cincturing
Removing only a very narrow and thin layer of bark tissue to increase fruit set and size in fruit-bearing plants; e.g., peach (Prunus persica) and grapes (Vitis)
Synonym: girdling
Circinate
Coiled like watch springs, as with the arrangement of fern fronds in bud
Circular
Round
Synonym: orbicular
Circumscissile
Dehiscing transversely so the top comes off, as with some anthers and capsules; see also
luculicidal, poricidal, septicidal
Cirrose, cirrhose
Having tendrils or terminating in a tendril
Cladophyll, cladode
Stem that looks and functions like a leaf
Synonym: phylloclade
Cladoptosic
Deciduous by branches and leaves shedding together;
e.g., bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Clambering
Climbing, but very weakly or not at all attached to supporting structures
Clasping
Surrounding the stem partially to nearly completely, as with some leaf blade bases in the grass family (Poaceae)
Class
Taxonomic rank above order and below division
Clavate, claviform
Shaped like a club
Claw
Narrow base of an otherwise broad structure; e.g., some petals and sepals; see also unguiculate
Cleft
Notch or sinus extending almost to the middle of the structure, usually used in reference to petals or leaves
Cleistogamous
Flowers that are self-fertilized while still closed; e.g., violets (Viola)
Antonym: chasmogamous
Climber
Plant that grows upward by leaning against or attaching itself to support structures, which may be other plants
Climbing
Growing upward by leaning against or attaching to support structures
Clinal variation
Structural and/or genetic differences in plant populations along an environmental gradient such as elevation or moisture
