Dictionary

Word	Meaning
Syncarpous	Having several carpels united together. See apocarpous.
Synflorescence	A compound inflorescence.
Tannin	A naturally occurring chemical derived from phenolic acids that is found in vascular plants. Tannins are deterrents to herbivores, and thus provide some protection for plants. Tannins have a bitter taste.
Tap root	A root system with one prominent, central root and several or many side branching roots.
Taxon	The Greek word for group. Life forms with common features are placed in groups or taxa. Refer to taxonomy.
Taxonomic	Relating to taxonomy, which is the scientific discipline of classifying life.
Taxonomy	The scientific discipline of classifying life. Refer to phylogeny.
Tendril	A slender twining branchlet-like growth, often a modified stipule, used by the plant to grasp on to other plants or objects for support.
Tepal	The term 'tepal' is used when the sepals and petals of a flower are not sufficiently differentiated or distinct from one another for either term to be applied specifically.
Terete	Circular in cross section, or somewhat round in cross-section; or cylindrical without grooves or ridges.
Terminal	At the end of a stem.
Tetra-	A prefix meaning four, as in four parts.
Thorn	A short, firm, pointed woody structure that is often recurved. Thorns are derived from a reduced branch.
Thyrse	A branched inflorescence in which the main axis is indeterminate (racemose) and the lateral branches determinate (cymose).
Tomentose	Covered in dense, short soft hairs, which may be matted.
Tomentum	A layer of short, matted woolly down on the surface of a plant. Refer to tomentose, pubescent, pilose.
Torulose	Having a few rounded elevations or knobs scattered over the surface.
Transpiration	Transpiration is the loss of water vapour by a plant, mostly through its stomata. Such loss of water in leaves creates transpiration pull, a force that draws water and nutrients up through the plant.
Tree	A perennial woody plant with a clear main trunk and a canopy of foliage.
Trichome	A hair-like outgrowth from the epidermis, such as a hair or bristle.
Trichotomous	Divided or dividing into three parts or into threes. A type of branching where the stem divides into three branches.
Trifoliolate	A compound leaf with three leaflets, each of which arises from the end of the petiole. Each leaflet may be stalkless or be borne on a short stem. Trifoliolate leaves may also be referred to as 3-foliolate. A trifoliolate leaf is not pinnate.
Triquetrous	A triangle with three sharp angles.
Tropism	The growth curvature of a stem or other plant parts in response to an environmental stimulus such as light or gravity.
Truncate	If referring to a leaf base, tapering abruptly into the petiole, as if cut off.
Truss	If referring to fig tree, a truss is a group of figs on a modified leafless branch that grows from a main limb or the tree trunk.
Tuber	Root tubers are swollen roots or root-branches that store water and/or nourishment. Stem tubers are thickened branches of an underground stem that bear minute leaves and store water and nutrients. A potato is, for example, a tuber.
Tufted	Growing in a tight group.
Twice pinnate	A compound that is leaf twice divided, or bipinnate, with leaflets arranged in two opposite ranks along rachilla, that are in turn arranged along the rachis.
Umbel	Flowers with stalks, each of which branch out from the tip of a main flower stem. A compound umbel arises when each stalk branching out from the tip of the main flower stem itself ends in another umbel. An umbel is an inflorescence.