lacuna pl. lacunae |
|
FEATURE |
|
A hole or cavity; an empty space surrounded by tissue in two or three dimensions. |
anthela pl. anthelae |
|
nominative |
inflorescence |
A cyme with the main axis markedly shorter than the lateral axes, appearing generally paniculate when compound; esp. in Juncaceae. |
concentric |
|
position |
|
Having a center or axis of symmetry coincident with that of the context of reference. |
spicate |
|
architecture |
inflorescence |
Comprising one or more spikes. |
alete |
|
architecture |
spore |
Lacking a tetrad scar (surficial ridge or angle resulting from coherence with others produced from the same spore mother cell). |
perennial 1 |
|
duration |
plant |
Normally living more than two years, with no definite limit to its life span. |
appressed |
|
orientation |
lateral structure |
Angled at or near the base and closely flattened against the surface of the bearing structure, thus more or less parallel to it. |
opposite 1 |
|
arrangement |
|
Disposed in pairs along the axis, the members of each pair inserted at the same level across from one another. |
fistulose |
|
solid shape |
|
Basically tubular with closed ends. |
pollinial |
|
arrangement |
pollen |
Polyadal with the grains of individual thecae (pollen sacs), or of fused thecae, compacted and forming tightly coherent masses (pollinia) that constitute the basic dispersal units, these sometimes distally attenuate to a sterile caudicle (translator arm), sometimes united by caudicles in groups of two or more, the caudicle(s) sometimes attached to a viscidium, either directly or through an intervening stipe; esp. in Asclepiadaceae, Orchidaceae. |
pubescent 1 (broad sense) |
|
pubescence |
|
Bearing trichomes. This is one of the most ambiguous terms in the botanical lexicon; it should not be used unless its intended meaning is explicit. |
placentation |
|
CHARACTER |
|
Disposition of the placenta(e) within an ovary. |
cylindric(al) |
|
solid shape |
|
Solid and transversely round with a more or less uniform diameter, the ends blunt. |
andropetalous 1 |
|
architecture |
flower, androecium |
Having petaloid, sterile stamens. |
crassate |
|
architecture |
|
Relatively thick for the type of structure or in the taxonomic context. |
sheath (leaf) |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The lower (basal or proximal), fundamentally laminar but strongly involute portion of one of the non-petiolate leaves characteristic of most monocotyledons (Liliidae); distinct from the leaf blade, which, when present, is borne distally upon it; analogous, though not necessarily homologous, with a petiole; usually more or less completely enclosing a portion of the stem above the node from which the leaf is borne. |
floret |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A very small, structurally specialized flower, especially when occurring in capitulum (head; Asteraceae), or in a spikelet (Poaceae), where it includes the immediately subtending bracts (lemma and palea). |
primocane |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A biennial or perennial stem before it has begun flowering, when the latter does not occur until at least its second season of growth; esp. in Rubus (Rosaceae). |
isodiametric |
|
architecture |
|
Of approximately constant breadth in all median planes. |
haplomorphic |
|
architecture |
flower |
Having the members of each set of basic floral structures numerous and spirally arranged, the flower hemispheric to conoidal overall. |
dichlamydeous |
|
architecture |
flower |
Having a perianth differentiated into a distinct calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals). |
size |
|
CHARACTER |
|
Nature as to absolute or comparative extent in any one dimension or in area or volume. |
trioecious |
|
reproduction |
taxon |
Having some flowers or spikelets functionally unisexual and some bisexual, some plants having only staminate or only pistillate types, other plants having only bisexual types. |