Glossary

usually looks like a small leaf where a flower stalk meets the plant stem. In unusual circumstances the bracts have color and become pronounced looking like petals as in dogwood flowers and poinsettia

an often drooping cluster  of small, stalk-less flowers, doesn’t look like what one thinks of as a “flower”; more like a pipe cleaner

means “below” – an inferior ovary is the swelled organ where the seed develops that sits LOWER than the petals and sepals if viewed from the side or in cross-section

a flower head spike or cluster of flowers on a plant; the bloom(s)

so small you can’t really see it without magnification; usually refers to flowers

flower organ that contains the ovules which mature into seeds

undeveloped part of the ovary which becomes the seed

an elongated  cluster of flowers that matures starting at the bottom and working  towards the tip

stalk of a single flower within a cluster of flowers

primary flower stalk of a solitary flower or cluster of flowers

the second to bottom structure of the flower head usually in direct contact with the sepals. Petals are often large and colorful

reproductive part of the flower that contains the ovary and other parts and sometimes is shaped like a bowling pin in the center of the flower

the very tiny grains produced by  male parts of a flower that fertilize the seeds and usually appear as fine yellow dust

an elongated cluster of flowers or berries tight along a stem that start bloom at the bottom and work their way upwards over time

the lowest structure at the bottom of a flower where the flower meets the flower stalk. The sepals often look like small leaves cupping the flower above, and in fact, function to protect the flower before it opens

an elongated cluster of flowers with no individual stems or side branching

the part of grasses and sedges that sticks upward like a spike and contains all the tiny flowers

male reproductive part of a flower that includes a filament (shaft) anthers (heads), and pollen

central tube of a flower sometimes left after all the individual flowers fall off

means “above” – a superior ovary is the swelled organ where the seed develops that sits HIGHER than the petals and sepals if viewed from the side or in cross-section

the end tip of the highest stem or stalk

a flower head in which all the individual flower stalks radiate from a common point, like an umbrella

sepals that are connected to each other towards the flower stalk

a cone consists of seeds with overlapping outer thin papery or woody scales around a central axis

a berry with a single seed, usually a large seed

the medicinal ability to restore the proper functioning to the body, gently over time, by eliminating wastes and improving metabolism

a young, undeveloped leaf, flower or shoot enclosed in tight scales

screens with different size openings to allow seed to fall through, but other plant parts to be captured and removed

moisture absorbing material that pulls moisture out of an object to dry it thoroughly

male flowers are on one plant, female flowers on another plant. Only female plants produces fruit and needs another male plant nearby in order to be fertilized

causing vomiting

not extinct worldwide, but extinct within a given locale like a state, country or continent

a family subdivides into genera which related to each other, like siblings

the reproductive part of a tree or plant that matures into fruit, seed or nut

a genus subdivides into species, which are related to each other

plant whose stem is not woody

a non-native to the ecosystem, but now naturalized and thriving so well so that it is displacing natives through an unnatural competition

asymmetrically shaped flower

visible small dots, slits, diamonds or triangular openings in the bark and twigs of trees and shrubs where gas exchange occurs withe the atmosphere, one way a plant breathes

a thousandth of an inch measurement, plural is “mils”

male and female flowers on the same plant, a plant that can self-fertilize

an indigenous species occurs naturally in an area, not introduced by humans

originally non-native to the area, but introduced into the area by humans accidentally or on purpose, and plant is now reproducing on its own with no further help. Often “naturalized” means it is a plant we “like” and it is not displacing native species or causing much harm to the local ecosystem

originally non-native to the area, but introduced into the area by humans accidentally or on purpose, and plant is now reproducing on its own with no further help. Often “invasive” means it is a plant we “no longer like” because it is doing too well and taking over and is displacing or harming native species

symmetrically shaped flower

a woody plant, smaller than a tree, often with multiple trunks, a bush

separating the seeds from the plant by beating, flailing, or somehow knocking the seeds off the plant

separating the loosened seed from the other undesired dried bits of flower and leaf using air currents to blow away the lighter bits and allowing the seed to fall and be captured

the arrangement of leaves or branches singly along a stem where the leaf stems are not directly across from each other or whorled but instead alternate up the stem with space between branches

tip of leaf

the spot on the stem or branch directly above the leaf stem (petiole

the centerline extension of the leaf stem running the  length of a leaf to the tip, which is where the midrib runs

base of a plant at ground level

bottom of leaf that attaches to the leaf stem (petiole)

a leaf which is actually comprised of 3 or more  leaflets along a central stem, as opposed to a simple leaf which consists of one leaf blade only. When the leaf drops off, the whole compound leaf falls as one

shape of leaf is heart-shaped

same as compound leaf

the edge of the leaf is smooth and not toothed

leaf’s skin

leaf blade

a single blade of a compound leaf. Leaflets share a common stem and all together they make up one compound leaf. Leaflets look like leaves, all lie in the same plane, but do not have new growth buds forming where they attach to the leaf axil

leaf blade has an undulating edge creating sections but none of the indentations in the leaf outline go completely to the leaf rib

the side edges of the leaf

raised center vein running lengthwise down the center back of a leaf

a type of plant that usually has oblong or linear leaves with parallel leaf veins; also called a monocotyledon

the arrangement of leaves or branches in pairs directly opposite each other on a stem

shape of the leaf is like an almond or an eye

description of an arrangement of leaflets in a compound leaf–each leaflet attaches at a common point on the leaf stem like a palm leaf or the palm of your hand with fingers outstretched

stalk of leaf that connect to branch or twig. If no stalk it is called sessile

description of an arrangement of leaflets in a compound leaf–each leaflet arranged basically alongside one another on opposite sides of the axis

plant with more than one shape of leaf

raised main vein on back of a leaf

a dense cluster of leaves that form just at ground level in a ring around the center where the stem has or will emerge

edge of leaf that appears zigzagged, forward-pointing and  sawblade-like; toothed

having no leaf stem, attaching directly to stem or twig

a leaf with one leaf blade, with or without lobes but not consisting of many separate leaflets

space or indentation between two lobes or teeth of a leaf

an appendage or small leaf-looking part that emerges at the point the leaf meets the stem at the leaf axil

sharp pointed edges of the leaf, usually like a sawblade edge

an underground stem that is a creeping rootstock and sends out new roots; when divided, rhizomes can create new plants. Similar to stolons

runners, at the base of the plant. Thin, connecting runners that lay parallel along the ground connecting plant to plant, and sending out new roots. Like strawberry plants have

a hard, dry, single seed that does not open

the stiff “whiskers” that stick up out of the seed heads of many grass grains and like wheat

the hulls, crumbly leaves, stems and papery parts of grains that are removed before the seed is eaten, loosely to mean the unwanted dried plants bits other than the seeds

the outer part that covers a seed or grain

the fruit of the plant. “Soft mast” is fleshy fruits like berries. “Hard mast” is nuts like acorns or walnuts

seeds that can take airtight, dry, frozen storage and survive

think “dandelion fluff” or “parachute”–a feature mostly in the Aster family. Develops as the seed matures and the flower parts fall away–the seed is attached to the pappus “hairs” that help it lift and float in the wind

seed is fussy and has high maintenance storage needs that cannot tolerate dry, airtight, frozen conditions

the section of a stem between where the leaves or branches attach

a swollen area on a stem, often look like a “knee” where a leaf attaches. Grasses have obvious nodes

an underground stem that is a creeping rootstock and sends out new roots; when divided, rhizomes can create new plants. Similar to stolons

a wing on a stem is a thin flat attachment to the stem that runs the length of the stem. The “wing” attaches perpendicular to the stem surface. A cut stem viewed it edgewise will display the wing in profile