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pubescence |
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CHARACTER |
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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). |
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twining |
= voluble |
habit |
axis |
Coiling about other plants or objects during growth, thus achieving support. |
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voluble |
= twining |
habit |
axis |
Coiling about other plants or objects during growth, thus achieving support. |
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dyadal |
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arrangement |
pollen |
Cohering and shed in pairs, each tetrad having separated into halves. |
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fastigiate |
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arrangement |
branches |
Closely parallel to one another and to the axis of origin over most of their lengths. |
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sheathed |
= vaginate |
architecture |
structure |
Closely enclosed over some or all of its length by a terete or involute structure. |
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vaginate |
= sheathed |
architecture |
structure |
Closely enclosed over some or all of its length by a terete or involute structure. |
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orbiculate |
= round; orbicular misapplied |
plane shape |
|
Circular. |
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round |
= orbiculate, orbicular misapplied |
plane shape |
|
Circular. |
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campanulate |
= bell-shaped |
solid shape |
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Circular in transverse section, inflated proximally, thence broadening gradually to a flared distal portion. |
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bell-shaped |
= campanulate |
solid shape |
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Circular in cross-section, inflated proximally, thence broadening gradually to a flared distal portion. |
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strobiloid |
|
architecture |
flower |
Characterized by a general lack of adnation among the different sets of basic floral structures, any significant degree of fusion limited to connation within sets, thus with ovary(ies) superior and lacking a floral tube. |
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insectivorous |
< carnivorous |
nutrition |
plant, structure |
Capturing insects, digesting their tissues by means of exoenzymes secreted by specialized cells or tissues, and assimilating the digested substances as nourishment, especially for nitrogen. |
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carnivorous |
> insectivorous |
nutrition |
plant |
Capturing animals (usually insects), digesting their tissues by means of exoenzymes secreted by specialized cells or tissues, and assimilating the digested substances as nourishment, especially for nitrogen. |
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floating 1 |
|
habit |
plant |
Buoyant and growing entirely at or near the surface of water, not rooted in any substrate. |
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bellied |
= ventricose |
solid shape |
|
Bulging unilaterally near the middle, as though with a belly. |
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ventricose |
= bellied |
solid shape |
|
Bulging unilaterally near the middle, as though with a belly. |
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gibbous |
|
solid shape |
|
Bulging unilaterally near the base. |
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banded |
|
coloration |
|
Broadly striped; having one or more elongate, relatively broad and, when multiple, more or less parallel, areas of contrasting hue and/or intensity. |
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turbinate |
= top-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Broadly obovoid-obconic; like a spinning top. See also pyriform (pear-shaped), obturbinate. |
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top-shaped |
= turbinate |
solid shape |
|
Broadly obovoid-obconic; like a spinning top. See also pear-shaped (pyriform), obturbinate. |
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lingulate |
= tongue-shaped |
solid shape |
|
Broadly elongate and compressed, one broad face more or less plane and the other convex, the edges rounded between them; like a tongue. |
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tongue-shaped |
= lingulate |
solid shape |
|
Broadly elongate and compressed, one broad face more or less plane and the other convex, the edges rounded between them; like a tongue. |
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kidney-shaped 1 |
= reniform |
plane shape |
|
Broadly elongate and arcuate, each end bluntly rounded; like the generalized outline of the broad face of a human kidney. |
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reniform 1 |
= kidney-shaped |
plane shape |
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Broadly elongate and arcuate, each end bluntly rounded; like the generalized outline of the broad face of a human kidney. |
