Lesson 2: Description, Botany & Harvest

Question 1

Why is it useful to know a plant’s native region?

Answer 1

how and where it likes to grow
sustainable harvesting concerns
cultivation
history and traditional uses within the region

Question 2

Why is it useful to know the geographic distribution of a plant?

Answer 2

offers an understanding of the environmental requirements for the plant to thrive, ie- sunlight, soil pH, climate zone and hardiness

Question 3

What is apex of leaf?

Answer 3

the tip farthest from the stem of plant.

Question 4

what is a petiol?

Answer 4

the “branch” at the base of the leaf that connects the leaf to the stem of the plant.

Question 5

what is a cordate leaf?

Answer 5

a heart shaped leaf with a sharp tip at the apex, and the prtiol coming out between the rounded arches at the base of the lef- like a “spade”.

Question 6

what is an elliptical leaf?

Answer 6

a shape that is longer than it is wide, tapering relatively eavenly at the apex and base.

Question 7

what is a lanceolate leaf?

Answer 7

a shape that is longer than it is wide, with a smaller taper at the apex than at the base

Question 8

what is a linear leaf?

Answer 8

a narrow leaf that is the same width at the base and apex.

Question 9

what is an ovate leaf?

Answer 9

a rounded leaf that is wider at the base

Question 10

what is an acuminate?

Answer 10

an apex that tapers to a long, thin point

Question 11

what is a saggitate?

Answer 11

a base that looks like the base of an arrow head

Question 12

what is truncate?

Answer 12

a square base

Question 13

what is a simple leaf?

Answer 13

a leaf that presents as a single blade

Question 14

what is a compound leaf?

Answer 14

smaller leaflets connect to the midrib with stems of their own (like a fern).

Question 15

what are margins?

Answer 15

the edge of the leaf

Question 16

what is an entire margin?

Answer 16

a completely smooth leaf edge all the way around.

Question 17

what is a cleft margin?

Answer 17

rounded shap with margin almost halfway to the midrib: oak leaf

Question 18

What is a crenate margin?

Answer 18

small rounded teeth around the edges of the leaf

Question 19

what is a dentate margin?

Answer 19

sharp teeth that point outwardss around the edge of the leaf

Question 20

what is an incised margin?

Answer 20

irregular teeth with deep notches that cut toward the midrib.

Question 21

What is lobed margin?

Answer 21

rounded shape with notches that cut less than halfway to the midrib.

Question 22

what is a serrated margin?

Answer 22

teeth that point toward the apex around the edges of the leaf

Question 23

what is sinuate margin?

Answer 23

wavy edge, larger than crenate, not as pronounced as lobed or cleft.

Question 24

what is a node?

Answer 24

the area that the petiole attaches to the stem.

Question 25

What are alternate nodes?

Answer 25

a single leaf coming out of a node, with one leaf on the left, and nothing across from it, and then another leaf on the right, either a little above or below the left hand leaf.

Question 26

What are opposite nodes?

Answer 26

two leaves at each node, one on either side of the stem, directly across from one another

Question 27

What are rosettes?

Answer 27

a cluster of leaves qat the base of the plant that form a rosette pattern, often presenting with small petioles and nodes.

Question 28

What are whorled leaf patterns?

Answer 28

leaves form a circle around the stem at regular intervals.

Question 29

What is a complete flower?

Answer 29

flower presents with stamen, petals, pistils and sepals

Question 30

What is an incomplete flower?

Answer 30

flower is lacking any of the following: pistils, sepals, petals or stamens

Question 31

what is a perfect flower?

Answer 31

has functioning stamens and pistils

Question 32

what is an imperfect flower?

Answer 32

lacking either a stamen or pistil

Question 33

what is a pistillate flower?

Answer 33

a female flower with pistils, but lacking stamens

Question 34

what is a staminate flower?

Answer 34

a male flower with stamens but lacking pistils

Question 35

what is a solitary flower?

Answer 35

one flower per stem.

Question 36

what is inflorescense?

Answer 36

a cluster of flowers.

Question 37

what is indeterminate inflorescense?

Answer 37

a cluster of flowers with the youngest flowers located at the top, or along the inside of the inflorescence.

Question 38

what is determinate inflorescence?

Answer 38

a cluster of flowers with the youngest flowers located at the bottom or along the outside of the inflorescence.

Question 39

what is the life span of an annual plant?

Answer 39

one year

Question 40

What is the life span of a biennial plant?

Answer 40

two years

Question 41

what is the life span of a perennial plant?

Answer 41

more than two years