Dictionary
Word | Meaning |
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Abaxial | The side of an organ away from the axis on which it is inserted, such as the lower surface of a leaf. Abaxial is the opposite to adaxial. |
Accrescent | Continuing to grow after flowering. |
Achene | A one-seeded dry fruit, without wings, and with its seed having one point of attachment only. |
Actinomorphic | Radially symmetric flowers that can be divided into mirror-image halves by a straight line passing in any direction through the mid-point. The flower is radially symmetrical because the petals and sepals are of similar size and shape. In contrast, a flower that is zygomorphic has bilateral symmetry. Most flowers are actinomorphic. |
Acuminate | Drawn out into a long, tapering point with the terminal angle less than 45 degrees. Same meaning as attenuate. |
Acute | Referring to a leaf shape, the terminal angle 45 degrees to 60 degrees, and with a sharp point. |
Adaxial | The side of an organ towards the axis on which it is inserted, such as a leaf's upper surface. Abaxial is the opposite to adaxial. |
Adnate | Attached surface to surface, usually referring to different organs or structures, such as stamens and petals. See connate. |
Adpressed | Lying close together, but not fused, and pointing toward the apex of the plant or stem. Usually refers to leaves growing up against the stem. See appressed. |
Adventitious | A term referring to roots or shoots that arise from unexpected or unusual positions. |
Aerial roots | Roots produced by a tree above ground that find their way to water and nutrients. |
Alluvial | Sand or clay soils that have been deposited by a river. |
Alternate | Referring to leaf layout, leaves growing from alternating sides of each successive node. |
Alternipetalous | Alternating with the petals, such as petal, stamen, petal, stamen. |
Ament | An ament is an elongated and hanging spike or cluster of flowers, which are usually unisexual, sessile or sub-sessile, and without petals. Aments typically fall as a unit once fruiting is complete. The preferred term is catkin. |
Amplexicaul | The stipules or the base of the leaf stalk wrap around the stem to the opposite side. |
Androgynophore | A stalk that lifts both the male and female flowering parts further above the perianth. Andro- refers to male and gyno- refers to female. |
Androgynous | Partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex. |
Anemochory | Dispersal of seeds or spores by wind. A significant number of trees and shrubs in Kruger Park use wind to disperse their seeds. |
Angiosperms | Flowering plants. The seeds of angiosperms are enclosed in an ovary, which develops into a fruit after germination. This is unlike the seeds of gymnosperms that are 'naked' during pollination. More than 80% of all plant species are angiosperms. Angiosperms divide into two primary groups called monocotyledons or monocots, and dicotyledons or dicots. |
Angustate | Narrowing. The species name for Boscia angustifolia derives from the term angustate, which is derived from the Latin word for narrowed. |
Anther | The part of a stamen at the tip of the filament that produces and stores pollen. An anther consists of two lobes, each having a pair of pollen sacs called microsporangia, that produce pollen. The filament and anther together constitute the stamen. See pistil. |
Antherode | The remnant of an anther |
Apetulous | A flower without any petals. |
Apex | The tip of a leaf or fruit, or other organ. |
Apical | Of the apex. An apical bud, or meristem, is the growing tip at the apex of a stem. The preferred term is distal, being the furthest point from the place of attachment. |
Apical dominance | Growth of the apical bud that inhibits growth of axillary buds. |
Apical meristem | A region of undifferentiated plant tissue that is capable of active division, at the tip or apex of a growing stem or root. |
Apiculate | Referring to the apex of a leaf ending in an abrupt, short, sharp point, usually slightly twisted, as in Combretum apiculatum. Refer to mucronate. |
Apocarpous | Having distinct carpels, not joined together. See syncarpous. |