|
Predation
|
Referring to an interaction between two organisms one that lives on and at the expense of another, e.g., an insect larva that eats the embryo of a hickory nut or a species of Loranthaceae taking nutrients from a host plant. |
|
|
Prickle
|
A sharp, pointed outgrowth of the epidermis of stems, leaves and other plant parts; e.g., on the trunk and branches of Ceiba pentandra (Bombacaceae) and Jacaratia spinosa (Caricaceae), on the stems of Smilax spp. (Smilacaceae), and on the stems and leaves of many species of Solanum. |
|
|
Primary hemiepiphyte
|
Referring to a plant (e.g., Clusia spp. and species of Araceae) that begins its epiphytic life without a connection to the ground but later develops aerial roots that reach the ground. |
|
|
Primary leaflet
|
The first division of a compound leaf. |
|
|
Primary rachis
|
The main rachis of a compound leaf or a compound inflorescence. |
|
|
Primary vein
|
The thickest vein of a leaf (Hickey, 1973) |
|
|
Primary venation
|
The largest (in diameter) vein (e.g., in camptodromous venaton) or veins (e.g., in actindodromous venaton) in a leaf blade. Same as midrib. |
|
|
Prominent (diminuitive = prominulous)
|
Raised above the surface; e.g., the veins of a leaf or a seed. |
|
|
Prop roots
|
Aerial, densely packed, adventitious roots that are circular in transverse section. Prop roots do not allow light to be seen through them whereas stilt roots do. |
|
|
Prophyll
|
In monocots, the first leaf produced on a branch and located between the branch and the main axis; often two-keeled. |
|
|
Prostoma (plural = prostomata)
|
An indented and/or membranous area through which plant-associated ants bore into the hollow chambers of the trunks and stems; e.g., in many species of Cecropia (Cecropiaceae). |
|
|
Prostrate
|
Creeping flat along the ground, usually referring to stems growing along the ground that produce roots at their nodes. Same as repent. |
|
|
Protandry (protandrous)
|
Referring to a flower in which the pollen is shed before the stigma is receptive. Sometimes called proterandry (proterandrous). |
|
|
Prothallus (plural = prothalli)
|
The structure representing that part of a fern's life cycle between the germination of the haploid spore and the formation of the zygote. Fern prothalli are small, green, often heart-shaped, and bear the archegonia and antheridia where the egg and sperm are produced, respectively.This is the gametophyte generation of ferns and is completely independent of the sporophyte generation. Only those who know what they are looking for can find prothalli because they are small and hidden among the debris on the ground. |
|
|
Protogyny (protogynous)
|
Referring to a flower in which the stigma is receptive before the pollen is shed. Sometimes called proterogyny (proterogynous). |
|
|
Protologue
|
A scientic publication in which a new species is described or a scientific publication in which more than one new species are described, in the latter case each of the descriptions is the protologue of the new species. |
|
|
Proximal
|
Near to the place of attachment. Opposite of distal. Same as basal. |
|
|
Proximal
|
The part of an organ closest its the point of attachment. |
|
|
Pseudanthium (plural = pseudanthia)
|
A false flower; e.g., the inflorescence of species of Asteraceae and Dalechampia (Euphorbiaceae). |
|
|
Pseudaril
|
In Burseraceae, soft aril-like tissue that covers part or all of the pyrene and attracts dispersal agents. |
|
|
Pseudobulb
|
In Orchidaceae, a specially modified stem that is variously swollen and stores food and water. Pseudobulbs are common in epiphytic but are lacking in terrestrial species. |
|
|
Pseudocarp
|
Several small "fruits" surrounded by accompanying parts, such as that of Siparuna (Siparunaceae), in which the separate carpels are surrounded by a fleshy hypanthium, or the syconia of figs in which the the achenes are surrounded by hollow stem ends. |
|
|
Pseudostem
|
The apparent stem of Musa (Musaceae), Phenakospermum (Strelitziaceae), and some other monocots which is actually a cylinder formed by overlapping leaf bases. |
|
|
Pseudostipule
|
A leaf (e.g., in some species of Aristolochiaceae) or leaflet (e.g., in some species of Trichilia, Meliaceae) that resembles a stipule; in some Bignoniaceae, a bud scale derived from the axillary buds that resembles a stipule. |
|
|
Pseudosyncarpous
|
In the Annonaceae, referring to fruits in which the carpels seem to be connate, but in reality are free or almost free (e.g., species of Duguetia in the Annonaceae). |
|