collar 1 |
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STRUCTURE |
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The free portion (if any) of a floral tube, distal to its casing and/or neck when one or both is/are present. |
septifragal |
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dehiscence |
fruit |
Splitting through the exterior wall suture(s) but not the septum(-a), the valves of the wall then separating from the septum(-a) and the locules thus opened directly to the outside. |
fragrant |
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odor |
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Sweet or otherwise pleasant. |
maturation |
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CHARACTER |
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Timing of the attainment of functional maturity, sometimes relative to other structures, sometimes as to constituent structures relative to each other. |
bulbel |
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STRUCTURE |
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A comparatively small bulb branching laterally from a larger, currently primary one. |
intercostal |
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insertion |
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Between the costae. |
valvate 2 |
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arrangement |
planate structures |
Not overlapping, adjacent members laterally contiguous at their margins. |
elater 2 |
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STRUCTURE |
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An elongate, flattened, hygroscopic enation from a spore, straightening upon desiccation and aiding transport by air; esp. in Equisetaceae. |
androecium pl. androecia |
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STRUCTURE |
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The stamen(s), staminode(s), if any, and their ontogenetically associated structure(s), if any, of a single flower, taken collectively. |
gametophyte |
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PLANT |
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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. |
cormose |
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architecture |
plant |
Growing from corms. |
calyx pl. calyces |
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STRUCTURE |
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Collectively, the sepals of a flower, whether distinct or connate; the outer or proximal envelope of a differentiated perianth, whether the other envelope (corolla) is also actually present or is deemed to be secondarily absent due to evolutionary reduction. |
jacket cell |
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STRUCTURE |
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Any of the cells forming the portion of an antheridial wall between the basal cells and the cap cell(s). |
perulate |
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architecture |
bud |
Having outer scales that enclose and protect the embryonic components, from which they differ significantly in texture, shape, size, relief and/or vestiture. See also naked. |
vestiture |
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STRUCTURE / SUBSTANCE |
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See vesture. |
epichilium |
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STRUCTURE |
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The distal portion of a labellum (lip) that has distinct proximal, distal, and sometimes also central parts; in Orchidaceae. See also hypochilium, mesochilium. |
glome |
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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. |
mucronulate |
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apex |
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Finely mucronate. See also apiculate. |
resupinate |
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orientation |
lateral structure |
Inverted due to twisting distal to the point of insertion during development. |
sympodial |
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architecture |
axes |
Branching laterally, each axis of each apparent order of branches comprising a series of laterally derived segments each of which functioned in turn as the distal leader, the apical meristem of each segment dominant until supplanted by that of the next. See also monopodial. |
spinescent |
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architecture |
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Becoming spinose. |
eusporangiate |
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reproduction |
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Having relatively large sporangia each of which develops from a group of initial cells that, by periclinal divisions, give rise to an outer layer of primary cells and an inner layer of sporogenous cells; in Psilotophyta, Lycopodiophyta, Equisetophyta, and some Polypodiophyta. |
archegonium pl. archegonia |
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STRUCTURE |
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A female gametangium; a multicellular fertile organ of a mature gametophyte within which female gametes (eggs, ova) are produced and fertilized; having a broad, bulbous base and a narrower distal neck. Technically present but highly reduced and of no descriptive significance in Magnoliophyta. |
gynoecium pl. gynoecia var. gynaecium |
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STRUCTURE |
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The pistil(s) of a single flower together with any ontogenetically equivalent or subordinate structures present, taken collectively; the total female (ovule-producing) structural complement of a single flower. It may include one to many pistils, each simple or compound. |
ringed |
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relief |
bark |
Fissured, mainly horizontally, with at least some of the fissures individually encircling the stem more or less completely. |