Terminology Flashcards
1
Q
abaxial
A
the side or surface of an organ that faces away from the axis.
2
Q
accessory fruit
A
a fruit, or group of fruits, derived from one flower, in which the conspicuous, fleshy portion develops from the receptacle and is shed with the true fruit(s) attached.
3
Q
achene
A
a dry, indehiscent fruit formed from a superior ovary of one carpel and containing one seed which is free from the pericarp.
4
Q
actinomorphic
A
radially symmetrical.
5
Q
acute
A
terminating in a sharp point of less than 90 degrees, but not protracted. Used for apices and bases.
6
Q
adnate
A
fusion of unlike structures… e.g. petals fused to sepals.
7
Q
aggregate fruit
A
a cluster of fruits formed from the free carpels of one flower.
8
Q
androecium
A
the entire group of stamens of one flower.
9
Q
annual
A
a plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season. The seed germinates producing a seedling which grows into a mature plant, flowers, sets seed and dies before the season is over.
10
Q
anther
A
a sac bearing microspores that become pollen.
11
Q
berry
A
a fleshy or pulpy indehiscent fruit with the seed(s) embedded in the fleshy tissue of the pericarp.
12
Q
biennial
A
a plant that completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. Vegetative growth takes place in the first year. In the second year, the plant grows to reproductive maturity, flowers, sets seed and dies.
13
Q
bilabiate
A
two-lipped, usually referring to a corolla in which fusion of petals forms an upper and lower lip.
14
Q
bipinnately compound (bipinnate)
A
referring to leaves which are twice pinnately divided.
15
Q
bract
A
a leaf-like structure, different in form from the foliage leaves, usually found below the calyx or inflorescence, or in composites surrounding the head.
16
Q
campanulate
A
bell-shaped.
17
Q
capillary
A
very slender and hairlike.
18
Q
capsule
A
a dry fruit formed from two or more united carpels and dehiscing at maturity to release the seeds.
19
Q
carpel
A
the female flower organ at the center of a flower, having its margins fused together or fused with other carpels to enclose the ovules in an ovary. The style with its terminal stigma projects from the carpel or group of fused carpels.
20
Q
caryopsis
A
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit in which the seed coat is closely fused to the fruit wall… e.g. grass grain.
21
Q
catkin
A
a spike in which the flowers are unisexual and without conspicuous perianth.
22
Q
cauline
A
attached to an aerial stem; usually refers to leaves but sometimes refers to flowers.
23
Q
complete
A
all floral whorls (sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil) are present.
24
Q
composite head
A
a dense cluster of sessile flowers, as in the Asteraceae.
25
connate
structures fused with themselves i.e. like structures... e.g. petals fused together.
26
cordate
heart-shaped, i.e. having lobes at the base with an indentation in between.
27
corymb
a raceme inflorescence in which the pedicels of the lower flowers are longer than those of the upper flowers resulting in all reaching the same level and producing a more or less flat-topped inflorescence.
28
crenate
scalloped; with small, rounded projections on the edge.
29
cyme
an inflorescence in which each flower is formed at the tip of a growing axis and further flowers are formed on branches arising below it.
30
cypsela
a dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit formed from an inferior ovary.
31
dehiscence
a splitting action which allows the escape of spores, pollen, or seeds.
32
dentate
toothed.
33
determinate
having a growth pattern in which a bud or flower terminates the growing tip, thus preventing it from elongating beyond that point. This term usually refers to inflorescences.
34
diadelphous
filaments in two groups.
35
distal
remote from the point of origin or attachment.
36
drupe
a succulent fruit formed from one carpel, having the seed(s) enclosed in an inner stony layer of the fruit wall.
37
elliptic
long oval in outline, widest near middle and tapering equally toward both ends.
38
entire
having a smooth margin, not dissected, toothed, or indented.
39
epigynous
having the floral parts (especially stamens), attached above the point of insertion of the ovary, and arising from tissue that is fused to the ovary wall.
40
filiform
thread-like.
41
filament
the stalk that supports the anther.
42
follicle
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed from one carpel and dehiscing along the line of fusion of its edges.
43
fruit
a ripened ovary or group of ovaries, together with any adjacent parts that may be fused with it at maturity.
44
glabrous
without hairs.
45
gynoecium
the entire set of carpels of a flower.
46
helicoid
referring to a cyme which branches repeatedly on the same side and thus forms a coil.
47
hesperidium
a fleshy indehiscent fruit derived from a single pistil, with an outer leathery rind and septate interior, e.g. citrus fruits.
48
hypanthium
a cup or tube bearing floral parts above the base, and often above the top of the ovary of a flower.
49
hypogynous
having the perianth parts and stamens arising below the level of the ovary base.
50
imperfect
a unisexual flower lacking stamens (pistillate) or lacking a pistil (staminate).
51
indeterminate
having a growth pattern in which a growth can continue at the apex because a terminal bud or flower was not formed at the apex. This term usually refers to inflorescences.
52
incomplete
one or more of the floral whorls is absent.
53
inferior
the condition in which the base of the ovary attaches at least partly below the level of attachment of the other floral parts.
54
inflorescence
the flowering part of a plant; it may consist of solitary flowers or a cluster of flowers variously arranged.
55
internode
the portion of a stem between the point of attachment of two successive leaves or leaf pairs, or between the branches of an inflorescence... i.e. between adjacent nodes.
56
involucre
a group of bracts enveloping an inflorescence of closely adjacent flowers. Most commonly used for the group of bracts surrounding the head of a composite.
57
lanceolate
shaped like a narrow spearpoint, about three to four times as long as broad, tapering towards the apex.
58
leaflet
one of the leaflike subdivisions of a compound leaf, having its own separate blade.
59
legume
a fruit formed from one carpel, dehiscent along both sides, or indehiscent. Legumes are characteristic of the Fabaceae.
60
linear
very long and narrow in relation to the length, and with the sides parallel or nearly so, as applies to the leaves of many grasses.
61
mericarp
one segment of a fruit that breaks at maturity into units derived from the individual carpels.
62
mucronate
having a sharp, abrupt terminal point at the apex.
63
node
the position on a stem where a leaf is or was attached, or the point at which an inflorescence branches.
64
nut
a hard, dry, indehiscent fruit formed from two or more carpels, but containing only one seed.
65
oblanceolate
similar in shape to lanceolate but with the point of attachment at the narrower end... i.e. widest at the tip and tapering to the base.
66
oblique
larger and protruding more at the base on one side of the midrib than on the other... i.e. asymmetrical at the base.
67
oblong
having the length greater (up to four times) than the width and the sides parallel for most of their length, nearly rectangular.
68
obovate
similar in shape to ovate but attached at the narrower end and widest near the apex.
69
obtuse
with an angle of greater than 90 degrees at the base or apex, the apex either coming to a point of being slightly rounded.
70
ovary
the swollen case of the pistil that contains the ovules.
71
ovate
egg-shaped, with the leaf blade or other structure less than three times as long as broad and widest near the base.
72
palmate venation
a pattern of veins in a lead in which three or more primary veins diverge from a common point oat the base of a leaf blade.
73
palmately compound
a compound leaf with leaflets radiating from a common point of attachment like the fingers of a hand; no rachis is present, but each leaflet may have its own petiole.
74
panicle
an indeterminate inflorescence in which the flowers are borne on branches of the main axis or on further branches of the main axis.
75
pappus
a tuft of hairs on a fruit; in the Asteraceae, a tuft or ring of hairs or scale-like structures attached above the ovary outside the corolla. These may be the remnants of the calyx.
76
parallel ventation
a pattern of lead venation in which a number of main veins extend in parallel fashion from the base to the apex. Secondary veins may be hard to see or may be placed laterally between the primary veins.
77
papilionaceous
butterfly-like, with banner, wing, and keel (typical of Fabaceae flowers).
78
pedicel
the stalk of a flower.
79
peduncle
the stalk of an inflorescence.
80
peltate
having the petiole attached to the center of the lower surface of the leaf blade, rather than being attached to the margin.
81
pepo
a fruit with firm skin, pulpy interior, many seeds and a single locule; typical of many members of the cucumber family.
82
perennial
a plant whose life span extends over more than two growing seasons.
83
perianth
collective name for the calyx and corolla when considered together.
84
perigynous
having perianth segments and stamens attached to a cup-like or tube-like structure (the hypanthium) that is free from the ovary but extends above its base.
85
perfect
stamens and pistil together in one flower... i.e. bisexual.
86
petiole
the 'stalk' of the leaf.
87
petal
usually showy appendages inserted above the sepals that function in advertisement for animal pollinators.
88
pinnate venation
a pattern of leaf venation in which there is a single midvein running from the base to the apex (or nearly to the apex) with secondary veins diverging laterally from it.
89
pinnately compound (pinnate)
a leaf with a single elongate rachis (extensions of the petiole) with leaflets attached to it on either side.
90
pome
a fleshy, false fruit formed from an inferior ovary, in which the receptacle or hypanthium has enlarged to enclose the true fruit.
91
prostrate
lying flat on the ground.
92
pubescent
covered with hairs.
93
raceme
an indeterminate inflorescence in which a main axis produces a series of flowers on lateral stalks, the oldest at the base and the youngest at the top.
94
rachis
the axis (main central stalk) of a pinnately compound leaf in a bipinnate leaf, which is the continuation of the petiole; or at the main axis of an inflorescence.
95
ray flower
an outer, zygomorphic flower in the inflorescence of the Asteraceae.
96
receptacle
the expanded and somtimes
97
revolute
rolled downwards or backwards; of a leaf, with the margins rolled towards the abaxial surface.
98
rhizome
a horizontal underground stem. The leaves of a rhizome are often reduced to scales. Rhizomes sometimes bear adventitious roots.
99
salverform
long, tube-shaped corolla with flared limb.
100
schizocarp
a fruit that splits between carpels into one-seeded portions.
101
seed
a mature ovule that includes an embryo, stored food, and a seed coat.
102
sessile
having the leaf blade attached directly to a twig and lacking a petiole; without a stalk.
103
sepal
a segment of the outermost floral whorl, modified leaves that surround or protect the flower bud. Often green.
104
sheathing
having a leaf blade or petiole that is prolonged into a tube that partially or completely surrounds the twig below the node to which the leaf is attached. Grasses and many other monocots have sheathing leaves.
105
spike
an inflorescence in which individual flowers are sessile on a common elongate stem.
106
stipule
an appendage, often leafy in appearance, attached to the stem or petiole at the point where the petiole attaches.
107
stigma
the uppermost, pollen-receptive surface of the pistil.
108
style
a column of tissue that elevates the stigma.
109
stolon
a horizontal stem, running laterally from a rooted plant, at or somewhat above the surface of the ground that often gives rise to a new rooted plant at points where it comes in contact with the ground.
110
superior
the condition is which the base of the ovary is attached above the level of attachment of other floral parts.
111
tendril
a slender, twining structure used in climbing, formed by modification of other plant parts such as leaves, stems, inflorescences, or stipules.
112
tepal
a perianth segment in a flower in which all the perianth segments are similar in appearance... i.e. in which it is difficult or impossible to distinguish sepals from petals.
113
thorn
a modified stem that is stiffened and terminates in a sharp point.
114
tomentose
covered with a dense mat of wooly hairs.
115
trifoliate
having three leaves.
116
umbel
an inflorescence in which all the individual flower stalks arise in a cluster at the top of the peduncle and are of about equal length.
117
zygomorphic
bilaterally symmetrical; being symmetrical on one plane only, usually the plant that bisects the structure vertically along the longitudinal axis. Usually refers to flowers, most often the corolla.
