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Cloud forest
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A mid-elevation vegetation type often covered in clouds. Cloud forest is dominated by low, snarled trees covered with mosses and liverworts. Species of orchids are abundant in this vegetation type and tree ferns are often conspicuous. Depending on local climate, distance from the sea, and isolation from other mountain ranges, cloud forest can be found between 500 and 4000 meters but it is most frequent between 1000 and 2000 meters. |
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Cloud forest
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A mid-elevation vegetation type often covered in clouds. Cloud forest is dominated by trees covered with mosses and liverworts. Species of orchids are abundant in this vegetation type and tree ferns are often conspicuous. Depending on local climate, distance from the sea, and isolation from other mountain ranges, cloud forest can be found between 500 and 4000 meters but it is most frequent between 1000 and 2000 meters. |
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Coevolution
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A reciprocal process in which adaptations of one organism promote adaptations in another; e.g., the nocturnal anthesis of a cup-shaped flower and the elongated snout of a bat that pollinates that flower. |
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Coherent
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Coming into contact but not fused; e.g., the anthers of species of Asteraceae and Campanulaceae. Same as connivent. |
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Coiled pedicel
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A pedicel that coils like a spring after the fruits start to form, a mechanism found in a few species of plants and functions to bring the fruits closer to the ground, presumably to make it easier for animals to disperse the seeds. |
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Coleoptera
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An order of insects including the beetles and weevils. Species of Coleoptera, can be pollinators and predators of plants. |
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Collecting equipment
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The equipment needed to collect plants in both temperate and tropical regions. Access the attached PDF for a list of essential equipment used by the senior author of this glossary. For more information about plant collecting see Tropical Plant Collecting: From the Filed to the Internet. This book can be purchased at: http://tecceditora.com/ or Amazon.com. |
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Collection number
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A unique number assigned to a plant collection that includes the name of the collector and a number. Collection numbers should start from 0 and continue sequentially throughout the career of the collector. The collection number of the collection represented by the attached label is Mori et al. 20100. Note that when there are more than two collectors all but the person's name who numbers the collection is reduced to et al. (= and others). For more information about plant collecting see Tropical Plant Collecting: From the Filed to the Internet. This book can be purchased at: http://tecceditora.com/ or Amazon.com. |
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Colleter
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In Lecythidaceae, a multicellular, unbranched glandlike structure found along leaf blade margins. Up to the present only Cariniana estrellensis has been shown to have colleters. |
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Columella (pl. = columellae)
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A woody outgrowth that descends into the fruit from the interior, middle of the operculum. |
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Column
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In the Orchidaceae, the structure formed by the fused androecium and gynoecium. |
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Column foot
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In the Orchidaceae, the fleshy continuation of the base of the column, often more prominent in fruit. |
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Coma (Comose)
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Referring to a structure, such as a seed, the bears tufts of hairs. Wind-dispersed seeds are often comose. |
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Complanate
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A sphere that is flattened at both poles. |
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Complanate
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A sphere that is flattened at both poles or a sphere that is shorter in height than it is in width. The term can refer to both three- and two-dimensional shapes. |
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Complete flower
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A flower with all whorls of floral parts; i.e., calyx, corolla, stamen(s), and gynoecium. Compare with incomplete flower. |
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Compound
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Referring to an organ, such as a leaf, which is divided into smaller units; i.e., leaflets. Opposite of simple. |
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Compound leaf
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Referring to a leaf which is divided into smaller units; i.e., leaflets. Opposite of simple. |
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Compound pistil
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A gynoecium composed of more than one carpel, same as compound ovary. |
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Concave
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Curved inward or hollowed out, as the surface of a saucer or the margin of a leaf blade. Opposite of convex. |
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Conifer (adj. = coniferous)
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Referring to shrubs or trees having cones as their reproductive structures, e.g., pines, spruces, firs, |
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Connate
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Referring to similar structures fused to each other, such as the petals of a sympetalous corolla. Same as fused. Compare with adnate and connivent. |
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Connivent
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Coming into contact but not fused; e.g., the anthers of species of Asteraceae and Campanulaceae. |
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Contractile roots
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Referring to a root that elongates and then contracts, usually to keep a bulb, corm, or rhizome at a certain level in the ground. |
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Contrafuerte
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Proyección leñosa y angosta, localizada entre las raíces secundarias superficiales y la base del tronco de algunos árboles. Ver raíz tabular. |
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