clambering |
|
habit |
plant, axis |
Reclining upon and spreading across other plants or objects without the aid of special holding structures or growth patterns. |
prominence |
|
CHARACTER |
|
Elevation or depression of a discrete feature relative to the surrounding surface. |
dimidiate |
|
plane shape |
|
Halved, figuratively; bilaterally asymmetric, nearly or wholly lacking one side as implicitly compared with some corresponding bilaterally symmetric structure, real or imagined. |
second glume |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The upper (distal) member of a pair of small bracts inserted at the base of a grass (Poaceae) spikelet. |
gametophyte |
|
PLANT |
|
The main, ultimate, gamete-bearing stage in the haploid (n chromosomes) phase of a taxon's life cycle. Two morphologically and genetically distinct and alternate stages together constitute the complete life cycle in sexually reproducing taxa, the other phase (sporophytic) being diploid (2n chromosomes). Any taxon whose life cycle is confined to one or the other phase is limited to asexual means of reproduction, since sexual reproduction and consequent genetic recombination are impossible without alternation between haploid and diploid states via meiosis and fertilization. The term gametophytic applies to any part of the haploid phase, including all unicellular to multicellular entities belonging to it, whereas gametophyte is reserved for the principal and directly gamete-producing stage of that phase. In all vascular plant taxa the sporophyte is the dominant and most conspicuous phase of the life cycle. The gametophytes of "lower" vascular plants (ferns and "fern-allies") are physically independent of the sporophytes and, though inconspicuous, merit description in their own rights. Those of gymnosperms and angiosperms are minute and physically dependent upon (contained within) sporophytic structures and are not usually included in morphological descriptions. In the flowering plants at least, the haploid phase is (presumably evolutionarily) reduced to such a degree that the existence of gametophytes per se is debatable. |
husk |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A more or less dry, hard or fibrous, simple or compound enclosure or outer layer of a seed, fruit or inflorescence. |
adenopetalous 2 |
|
derivation |
flower, perianth, corolla |
Having petals derived from glandular structures. |
bulliform |
|
solid shape |
|
Resembling a blister; broad, relatively thin at the periphery, the lower surface approximately flat, the upper shallowly to strongly convex. |
cymule |
|
nominative |
inflorescence |
A diminutive cyme, with few flowers, few or no branches, and short axes. |
collateral |
|
insertion |
buds |
In pairs within or immediately straddling the leaf axils, the members of a pair lateral to one another. |
septal |
|
position |
|
Upon or otherwise directly associated with the septum or septa. |
glome |
|
nominative |
inflorescence |
A rounded cluster of sessile or subsessile flowers that are inserted very close together and oriented divergently, the whole more or less hemispheric and sessile or subsessile. |
asymmetric(al) 1 |
|
plane shape |
|
Not divisible into essentially equal halves along any line or plane. |
oil-secreting |
|
exudation |
|
Producing and exuding an oily substance, often aromatic; when oil-secreting glands are indicated in the nominative, often they are called simply oil glands. |
square |
|
plane shape |
|
Equilaterally rectangular. |
thyrsate |
|
architecture |
inflorescence |
Comprising one or more thyrses. |
anisostemonous |
|
architecture |
flower, androecium |
Having stamens unequal in size and/or shape. |
placentation |
|
CHARACTER |
|
Disposition of the placenta(e) within an ovary. |
annual 1 |
|
duration |
plant, stem |
Normally living one year or less; growing, reproducing, and dying within one cycle of seasons. |
valvate 4 |
|
dehiscence |
fruit |
With longitudinal segments of the wall (valves) separating partly or wholly from one another, spreading outward from the base or apex, and sometimes falling away. |
pubescence |
|
CHARACTER |
|
Collective aspect of trichomes borne on the surface. Many of the terms traditionally used for describing pubescence have been defined and used in so many differing and often contradictory ways that they have become hopelessly ambiguous. This is attributable mainly to overdefinition within this portion of the traditional lexicon — that is, to highly arbitrary and widely variant restriction of a term's scope to some one detailed combination of trichome character states (shape, size, orientation, etc.). By derivation these are essentially general terms, really suited only for denoting overall aspect. The diversity actually encountered in nature defies comprehensive and unambiguous resolution into any limited suite of precisely specified, mutually exclusive, complex character states that can be associated with these terms, which are best used only in their general senses. Sometimes, such description will be sufficient in itself; more often, additionally or alternatively, the various attributes of the individual trichomes should be described. This is the only strategy that allows for full description of any possible condition, including the presence of more than one type of trichome. The various terms used for describing pubescence have never been semantically consistent; in some cases they refer to the trichomes themselves, while in others they apply to the bearing surface or structure; e.g., sericeous (the trichomes themselves are collectively silky) versus barbate (the structure is bearded). See also coating, indumentum (vesture). |
peripheral |
|
insertion |
|
Upon or otherwise directly associated with the outer surfaces or regions of a three-dimensional structure. Although use of this term in two-dimensional contexts is technically correct, traditionally the term marginal is preferred in such cases. |
lineolate 2 |
|
relief |
|
Finely lineate, the depressions or protrusions short and often irregularly oriented. |
emergent |
|
location |
plant, structure of aquatic plant |
Rising from beneath the water surface to a point above it. |
concolor(ous) |
|
coloration |
|
Uniform in hue and intensity of color; esp. leaves with identically colored adaxial and abaxial surfaces. |