Displaying 1 - 60 out of 621 Object(s)
| Term | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| -iform | A suffix indicating similarity to another structure, e.g., cordiform (somewhat heart shaped). | |
| -phore (-phorus) | A suffix meaning bearing, e.g. a gynophore which is a stalk that bears the gynoecium (chracteristic of Capparidaceae) and androgynophore which is a stalk bearing both the androecium and the gynoecium (characteristic of Passifloraceae). |  |
| a- | A prefix meaning “without,” e.g., a leaf blade that does not have symmetry. |  |
| Abaxial | Referring to the side of an organ situated away from the axis; i.e., the morphologically lower surface of a leaf. Opposite of adaxial and same as ventral, under, and lower surface. |  |
| Abortion | The process of arrested development. | |
| Abscission | The process by which plant parts, such as leaves, are shed. | |
| Accrescent | Enlarging with age, usually referring to parts of an inflorescence or a flower; e.g., the spathe of some Araceae and the calyx of Chaunochiton kappleri (Olacaceae). | |
| Achlorophyllous | Without chlorophyll; i.e., not green; a feature of saprophytes such as the species of Voyria (Gentianaceae), some species of orchids, the Triuridaceae, and the Burmanniaceae and of some parasites such as Helosis cayennensis (Balanophoraceae). | |
| Acicular | Needle-shaped. | |
| Acropetalous | Developing from the base toward the apex. Opposite of basipetalous. | |
| Acroscopic | Facing or directed toward the apex. Opposite of basiscopic. | |
| Actinomorphic | A plant structure capable of being divided, in more than one plane, into two equal parts that are mirror images of one another; this term is most often used to refer to flowers. | |
| Acumen | Apex. | |
| Acuminate | Gradually tapering to an acute apex with the sides being concave. |  |
| Acute | Sharp; usually referring to the apex of a flattened structure (such as a leaf) in which the two sides are straight and, when they meet, form an angle that is always less than 90°. |  |
| Ad- | A prefix meaning “to” or “toward.” | |
| Adaxial | Referring to the side of an organ facing toward the axis; i.e., the morphologically upper surface of a leaf. Opposite of abaxial and same as dorsal surface. | |
| Admedial | Toward the axis of any structure, especially used to describe leaf venation. Opposite of exmedial. |  |
| Admedial | Dirigido hacia el eje de una estructura. Término especialmente utilizado para describir el patrón de venas en una hoja. Opuesto a exmedial. | |
| Adnate | Referring to the attachment of one type of structure to another type of structure, as the stamens to the corolla or the stipules to the petiole. |  |
| Adpressed | Referring to one structure that is tightly positioned against another structure, e.g., a trichome pressed tightly against the abaxial leaf blade surface or the calyx tightly pressed against the fruit of |
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| Adventitious | Referring to an organ arising from an unusual position, especially buds or roots; e.g., the aerial roots of species of Araceae. |  |
| Alate | With a thin, conspicuous ridge running down the length of a structure such as a stem, leaf rachis, ovary, or fruit. Same as winged. |  |
| Aliform | Winglike; e.g., the seeds of many Bignoniaceae. | |
| Allantoid | A solid form sausage-like in outline. |  |
| Alternate | Referring to leaves and other structures that arise from an axis singly at each node, the leaves can be either simple or compound. Compare with opposite and whorled. |  |
| Alveolate | Like a honeycomb; i.e., with angular pits separated by thin, ridgelike partitions. | |
| Alveolus (plural = alveoli) | A small, angular pit like those of a honeycomb. | |
| Amplexicaul (amplexicaulous) | Clasping the stem as do some leaf and stipule bases. |  |
| Anastomosing | United to form a network; e.g., leaf veins or some aerial roots (e.g., strangler figs). | |
| Anchoriform | Shaped like an anchor. | |
| Ancipitous | Two-edged, the edges sharp. | |
| Aneuploidy | Referring to a process in which chromosome numbers arise that are more or less than, but not exact multiples of the base chromosome number for that group of organisms. | |
| Angulate | Angled. | |
| Anisomorphic | With two different forms of an organ. | |
| Annular | In the form of a ring. | |
| Anterior | See abaxial. | |
| Anthocyanic | Containing anthocyanins (water-soluble blue or red pigments). | |
| Antidromous | Referring to an organ twisted alternately in one direction at one node and in another direction at the next node; e.g., the capsules of Caiophora (Loasaceae). | |
| Antrorse | Directed upward or forward. Opposite of retrorse. | |
| Aperture (aperturate) | Referring to an opening into an organ; e.g., pollen grains with pores are aperturate and those without them are inaperturate. | |
| Apex | The tip or distal end of a structure such as a stem or leaf. | |
| Apical | Toward the apex. Opposite of basal. Same as distal. | |
| Apical pore | An opening at the apex of a structure; e.g., the flower of some species of Monimiaceae or the anthers of some species, such as, Gustavia augusta (Lecythidaceae). |  |
| Apical style | Same as terminal style. | |
| Apiculate | Terminating abruptly in a short, sharp point or apiculus. | |
| Apiculus | A short, sharp point. | |
| Apophysis | A projection or protuberance. | |
| Appendage | A secondary structure or outgrowth attached to a main structure; e.g., the outgrowths on anthers of Melastomataceae or species of Viola. |  |
| Appendaged | Bearing an appendage. Same as appendiculate. | |
| Appendicular | Of or relating to appendages. | |
| Appendiculate | Bearing appendages. Same as appendaged. | |
| Apposition | Two plant structures placed side by side or against each other. | |
| Appressed | Lying flat against a surface or axis; e.g., trichomes, leaves, or bracts. |  |
| Arachnoid | Like a spider’s web, usually because of a pubescence of fine, entangled hairs. | |
| Arbusculiform | See dendritic. | |
| Arcuate | Curved like a bow, often used to describe venation. | |
| Areolate | Possessing areoles; in mimosoid and caesalpinioid legumes, referring to seeds with a pleurogram. | |
| Areole (areola) | A flattened spot, circular or elliptic in outline, often on the apex of the seeds of some Violaceae (e.g., Rinorea); the smallest area of an organ (e.g., a leaf), enclosed by united veins; the spine-bearing area in the leaf axils of Cactaceae. | |
| Aristate | Bearing an elongate, narrow appendage at the apex of a structure (organ); e.g., the lemmas of some species of Poaceae. |