A Short Illustrated Glossary

 


There are literally thousands of scientific terms used to describe plant anatomy.  This glossary is not all-encompassing.  Those wishing more extensive taxonomic coverage are encouraged to refer to a professional text.  One such text that has proven to be very useful is Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, Second Edition, by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris.  Spring Lake Publishing, 2001.

 
Achene Cuneate Lanceolate Reflexed
Acuminate Cylindrical Lax Resin-Resinous
Acute Cypsela Linear Revolute
Alternate Deciduous Lobe Rhizome
Angular Deflexed Margin Rhizomatous
Anthocyanic Depauperate Mucronate Rosette
Apex-Apices Disc Node Rugose
Appressed Disc Corolla Oblanceolate Scabrous
Array Disc Floret Oblong Secund
Ascending Distal Obovate Sericeous
Attenuate Divergent Obtuse Serrate
Auriculate Elliptic Open Sessile
Axil-Axillary Elongate Ovate Sheathing
Basal Entire Panicle Sinus
Basally-Disposed Erect Paniculiform Spatulate
Bract-Bracteal Flexuous Papilla-Papillate Spine-Spinulose
Branch-Branchlet Floret Pappus Spreading
Branching Patterns Foliaceous Parallel Veined Squarrose
Calcareous Gall Pedicel Strigose
Campanulate Glabrate Peduncle Subtend
Capitulescence Glabrous Perfoliate Subulate
Capitulum Gland Persistent Sympatric
Chlorophyllous Glandular Petiole-Petiolate Terminal
Cilium-Ciliate Glaucous Phyllary Undulate
Clasping Glomerule Proximal Vase-shaped
Colonial Head Puberulent Whorled
Congested Hirsute Pubescent Winged
Conical Hispid Pyramidal
Constricted Imbricate Raceme
Cordate In-lines Ray Floret
Corymb-Corymbiform Inflorescence Receptacle
Crenate Involucre Recurved
Crowded Involute Reduced

 
Except otherwise noted, all photographic images and descriptions in this guide are the copyright of Arieh Tal, 2008-2009.  All rights reserved.  You may print an archival copy of these pages for your own use, as for example, to use when conducting field observations.  You may not legally sell or otherwise distribute this material without prior permission from the author/photographer.  Please respect copyrights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

01/14/2010