culm |
< cane, stem |
STRUCTURE |
|
A stem of a sedge (Cyperaceae) or grass (Poaceae), usually hollow. Use of this term or cane instead of stem is a matter of tradition and preference, not of descriptive precision or necessity. |
neck (archegonial) |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The distal narrowed portion of an archegonium above its bulbous base. |
barbellule |
= barbellula |
STRUCTURE |
|
A small barbel (barbella); a very diminutive barb. |
hypogynium pl. hypogynia |
= gynophore; < stalk, stipe (broad sense, not recommended) |
STRUCTURE |
|
The basal portion of an ovary when constricted and stalk-like above the level of perianth insertion, bearing the main body of the pistil at its summit; in Cyperaceae. |
prickle |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
Any unvascularized spine-like enation originating in the epidermis, cortex, or mesophyll of any shoot part. See also spine, thorn. |
crest |
= crista |
STRUCTURE |
|
A laterally elongate, relatively thin, irregular or notched, apical protrusion. |
calyculus 1 pl. calyculi |
= epicalyx |
STRUCTURE |
|
A whorl of bracts immediately subtending (beneath or outside) a calyx; literally, a little calyx. |
pneumatophore |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A structurally and functionally specialized root serving as an aboveground aerating organ; found in some woody taxa of wet habitats, notably some mangroves. |
cilium 1 pl. cilia |
> capillus, hair; >< trichome |
STRUCTURE |
|
A hair-like trichome or other surficial process. |
mesochilium |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The central portion of a labellum (lip) that has distinct proximal, distal, and central parts; in Orchidaceae. See also epichilium, hypochilium. |
sorus pl. sori |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A cluster of sporangia borne upon a fertile frond, usually on its abaxial surface; often covered during maturation by a protective membrane, the indusium, that is an outgrowth from the epidermis; in Polypodiophyta. |
bulbil |
= bulblet |
STRUCTURE |
|
A small bulb-like structure produced from a sterile or fertile plant structure other than a bulb, usually within a leaf axil, leaf sinus, or inflorescence, serving as a vegetative propagule. |
pith |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The central ground tissue of a stem or, when present, of a root, consisting of thin-walled parenchyma cells; distinct and more or less soft and spongy relative to the other tissues of the axis; sometimes partly or wholly degenerating after secondary growth has begun. |
torus 2 pl. tori |
= receptacle |
STRUCTURE |
|
The short, expanded, compound axial structure surmounting a peduncle and basal to two or more flowers, or to the florets of a capitulum (head) in Asteraceae (Compositae), where it may bear paleae (receptacular bracts), scales, bristles, trichomes, or subulate enations, and may be smooth or variously pitted (alveolate, foveolate). |
neck (floral tube) |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The solid, usually constricted portion of a floral tube sometimes present between casing and collar when those are both present. |
petiole |
< stalk, stipe (broad sense, not recommended) |
STRUCTURE |
|
The stalk, when present, of a leaf. |
thallus 1 pl. thalli |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The vegetative portion of a shoot when not differentiated into stem and leaves; esp. in Lemnaceae. |
bark |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The outermost portion of any shoot or root axis having secondary growth, consisting of all those tissues outside the vascular cambium; sometimes exhibiting zonation into inner, living bark and outer, dead bark; usually described only as to external appearance. |
operculum pl. opercula |
= lid |
STRUCTURE |
|
A distal, cover-like portion of a structure whose main body is otherwise closed, transversely discontinuous with the main body around most of the circumference, or becoming partially or wholly separate by transverse dehiscence; as of an ascidium (pitcher), pollen grain, pyxis, or sporangium (spore case). |
twig |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The terminal portion of an ultimate branch of a woody stem, representing the most recent increment of growth and bearing or having borne the current or most recent increment of leaves. See also branchlet. |
seta 1 pl. setae |
= arista, awn, bristle |
STRUCTURE |
|
A slender, more or less straight and stiff, fine-pointed, terminal or subterminal appendage or prolongation, sometimes a continuation of the bearing structure's central primary vein, as on a glume, lemma, or palea in Poaceae (Gramineae). |
calyculus 2 pl. calyculi |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
Collectively the bractlets (bracteoles) sometimes subtending (beneath or outside) the involucre in a capitulum (head); in Asteraceae (Compositae). |
elaiosome |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A fleshy outgrowth from the seed coat (testa) that contains a high proportion of oil, usually attracting ants for dispersal. |
limb 1 |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A relatively broad portion of a syntepalous (gamotepalous) perianth, synsepalous (gamosepalous) calyx, or sympetalous (gamopetalous) corolla distal to a narrower tube, spreading outward or ascending from the tube, comprising the distinct or connate distal portions of the tepals, sepals, or petals; except in bisexual or staminate disc florets of Asteraceae (Compositae). |
cilium 2 pl. cilia |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A motile hair- or whip-like structure extending from the surface of a cell. |