|
bottom-rooted |
|
habit |
plant |
Aquatic and rooted in the substrate beneath the water. |
|
equatorial ridge |
|
FEATURE |
|
A circumferential ring about a megaspore in the plane of its equator, raised above the remainder of the wall surface; in some heterosporous taxa of Polypodiophyta. |
|
…pinnate |
|
architecture |
foliaceous structure |
Compound with the number of orders of leaflets indicated by the prefix, each order pinnate; as in bipinnate, tripinnate. |
|
fixed |
|
fixation |
|
Attached to the bearing structure in a manner allowing no significant rotation or declination in relation to it. |
|
peripterous |
|
solid shape |
|
Alate with a single transversely encircling wing. |
|
fertile |
|
reproduction |
plant, reproductive structure |
Producing functional spores, gametes, pollen, ovules, seeds, or other propagules. |
|
bulbel |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A comparatively small bulb branching laterally from a larger, currently primary one. |
|
polyplicate |
|
architecture |
pollen grain |
Inaperturate with meridional folds, thus appearing longitudinally wrinkled. |
|
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. |
|
free-central |
|
placentation |
|
Upon the free axial column of a compound, unilocular ovary. |
|
gum |
|
SUBSTANCE |
|
A highly viscous and sticky exudate that becomes more or less elastic and/or deformably solid upon drying. Overlaps conceptually with latex. |
|
flower |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A functionally integrated, complex structure comprising sets of sporophytic and/or associated sterile structures disposed in standard sequence along a common axis; consisting of one or more constituent members each of, in ascending (proximal to distal) order of insertion, perianth (tepals, or else sepals and/or petals), androecium (stamens, staminodes and/or other associated structures), and/or gynoecium (pistils and/or other associated structures), the foregoing all borne laterally from the distal portion (receptacle) of the axis; depending upon the combination of structures present, may be bisexual, staminate only, pistillate only, or sterile; characteristic of and unique to the Magnoliophyta (Angiospermae). When a fertile androecium and gynoecium are both present a flower is termed perfect. When perfect and also with calyx and corolla both present, a flower is termed complete. Both terms are somewhat archaic and of limited descriptive value. |
|
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). |
|
acroramous |
|
architecture |
axis |
Branching at or near the apex. |
|
weeping |
|
architecture |
plant |
Having elongate, flexible, pendent branches. |
|
resinous 1 |
|
coating |
|
Of liquid or hardened resin. |
|
prop root |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
A relatively stout adventitious root arising from the lower portion of a main stem and extending outward and downward toward the substrate, within which it ultimately becomes anchored, thus buttressing the aboveground portion of the plant. |
|
anthelate |
|
architecture |
inflorescence |
Comprising one or more anthelae; esp. in Juncaceae. |
|
herbaceous 2 |
|
texture |
|
Composed entirely of relatively soft, non-woody (unlignified) tissues derived from primary growth. |
|
raphides sing. raphis |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
Needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate contained within the cells of some plants; esp. in Araceae. |
|
androecium pl. androecia |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
The stamen(s), staminode(s), if any, and their ontogenetically associated structure(s), if any, of a single flower, taken collectively. |
|
androgynecandrous |
|
reproduction |
taxon |
Monoecious, each inflorescence having distal and proximal sectors with only staminate flowers and between them a central sector with only pistillate ones. |
|
campylotropous |
|
orientation |
ovule |
Having the (reniform) ovule curved toward the ovary wall, the micropyle facing the wall, and the funiculus attached near the center of the concave side, the curvature and displacement of funicular insertion due to asymmetrical growth during ontogenesis. |
|
aquatic |
|
habit |
plant |
Growing in water. |
|
intravaginal |
|
position |
|
Within the leaf sheath. |
