A

a

latin prefix, meaning not, negative, without, lacking

ABA

abscisic acid

abaxial

1. the surface of a leaf, petal, etc. facing away from the stem or axis of the plant, 2. dorsal, 3. (opp adaxial)

aberrant

1. atypical or different from the norm, 2. can be used to describe a plant of species that is different from the group in which it is placed

abiotic

A nonliving factor of an ecosystem that has an effect on the living members of the ecosystem (opposite biotic). Things such as weather, heat, wind, etc.

ablastous

without germ or bud

abortion

an organ or plant structure fails to develop

abortive

1. only partially or not fully developed such as incomplete seed or frost nipped bud, 2. rudimentary

abrupt

truncated

abruptly pinnate

1. a pinnate leaf that ends without an odd leaflet or tendril, it ends in matched pairs, 2. evenly pinnate

abscisic acid

1. growth-inhibiting hormone of plants, 2. plays an important role in dormancy, 3. ABA

abscise

abscission

abscission

1. when seeds, fruit or leaves separate from the plant as an abscission zone is formed, 2. in the fall of the year abscission zones form and the leaves fall from the plants (temperate climates)

acantha

refers to a spine, thorn or prickle

acanthocarpa

1. bearing spiny fruit, 2. echinocarpa

acanthodes

1. from the greek word acantha meaning thorn 2. spiny, 3. Example: Ferocactus acanthodes is covered with many stiff spines.

acarpous

a plant that is sterile

acaulescent

1. without a stem or stemless, 2. Example: Aloe vera (Aloe vera), Living Rock (Pleiospilos bolusii), Baby Toes (Fenestraria rhopalophylla)

accessory bud

an extra bud in a leaf axil

accrescent

continuing to increase in size after maturity or flowering

accumbent

a pair of cotyledons curving back towards the hypocotyl so that their edges are turned towards the hypocotyl

accumbent cotyledons

accumbent

aceae

a latin suffix meaning the plants of nature

acephalous

headless or with much reduced heads

acerba

sour

aceriform

1. in the shape of a Maple leaf, 2. Example: Pale Indian Plantain (Arnoglossum atriplicifolium)

acervate

growing in heaps or compact clusters

acerose

1. needle-shaped as in the leaves of Pine and Spruce, 2. acicular, 3. Examples: Lace Bark Pine (Pinus bungeana), Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

achene

1. indehiscent dry fruit, one seeded, seed free from seed coat, 2. pericarp free from seed coat, 3. examples: buttercup, buckwheat, Goat's-beard (Tragopogon pratensis), Beggers Tick (Bidens frondosa), Curly Dock (Rumex crispus)

achenodium

schizocarp

achilary

lacking a lip

achlamydeous

1. flowers that lack sepals and petals, 2 Examples of achlamydeous plants: Willows,

achlorophyllous

without chlorophyll

achma

anvil shaped

acicula

small needle-like or bristle-like structure

acicular

1. needle-shaped, 2. acerose, 3. Examples: Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

aciculate

marked with pin pricks or needle scratches

acid

1. a substance with hydrogen ions available for chemical activity, 2. a solution with a ph reading of more than 0 and less than 7, 3. sour soils

acidophilous

1. a plant which prefers acid soil, 2. acid loving

acid soil

soil with a ph lower than 7.0

acidic

being acid

acidify

to lower the ph of the soil or growing media

acies

the edge of some angled stems

aciform

acicular

acinaceous

consisting of or full of kernels

acinacifolious

having scimitar-shaped leaves

acinaciform

1. shaped like a scimitar, 2. a leaf with one edge convex and thin, the other straighter and thick

acinarious

covered with little round, stalked, grape-like sacs

aciniform

1. in the form of grapes, or growing in grape-like structures, 2. acinose

acinose

resembling a bunch of grapes

acma

anvil shaped

acorn

1. the dry fruit of an Oak tree, 2. in botanical terms a nut, 2. Examples:Red Oak (Quercus rubra ), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

acranthous

having the inflorescence borne on the tip of the main axis

acrid

having a sharp, bitter or biting taste

actinomorphic

1. a regular flower, 2. flowers that can be bisected by more than one plane, 2. flowers which are radial symmetrical, 3. Examples: Lipstick Alpine Strawberry(Fragaria), Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

acula

1. stemless, acaulescent

acuminate

1. apex is tapering to a point with slightly concaved sides, 2. tapering to a fine point, 3. Examples: Japanese Lilac (Syringia reticulata), Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var tomemtosa)

acute

1. apex is tapering to a point with slightly convex sides, 2. sharply pointed, 3. Examples: Giant Purple Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariaefolia)

acutifolia

1. pointed leaves, 2. Example: Calamagrostis Karl Forester (Calamagrostis acutifolia)

ad

prefix meaning to or toward

adaxial

1. the side toward the axis, 2. ventral, 3. upside of an organ such as a leaf, 4. opp. abaxial

adnate

growing together or attaches

adnation

fusion of unlike parts

adnate stipules

stipules which adhere to the sides of the petiole

adnexed

annexed or touching but not attached

adobe soils

1. dense clay-like, alkaline soil, 2. gumbo

adpressed

1.lying close to another organ, but not fused to it , 2. Example: the scale-like leaves of, Arborvitae The Giant (Thuja plicata), Creeping Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster adpressus)

adult phase

the stage of plants capable of producing flowers and fruit

adventicius

latin for coming from the outside, as in adventitious roots

adventitious

occurring in unusual or unexpected locations, such as buds on the leaves, prop roots of corn, prop roots of Mangrove Trees, etc.

adventitious plantlets

plantlets which develops along the margins of leaves.

adventitious roots

1. roots developing from unusual places, 2. roots developing from a rhizome, 3 Examples:Monstrose Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa)

adventitious shoots

1. a shoot developing from an unusual place, such as a sucker, 2. Examples of plants with suckers or a suckering habit: Gray Twig Dogwood (Cornus racemosa), Pleomele (Pleomele reflexa)

aenea(-us,-um)

1. of a bronze color, Example: Carex aenea

aerial

occurring above ground or water

aerial roots

1. roots developing above ground level, 2 adventitious roots, 3 pneumatophores ,4. knees

aeruginosa (-us,-um)

1. having deep green with blue color, 2: Example: Euphorbia aeruginosa var minor has a deep green stem with blue coloration

afoliate

without leaves

after ripening

physiological conditions that occur within a seed so that germination can take place (seed dormancy)

agglomerate

1. crowded in a dense cluster, 2. similar to glomerate, aggregate

aggregate

1. densely clustered, 2. glomerate

aggregate fruit

1. a fruit formed from the aggregation of many ripened ovaries that originate from a single flower, 2. a fruit formed from a flower with many ovaries such as blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, etc.

AHS

American Horticultural Society

aianthous

1. continuously in bloom or flower, 2. semperflorous

air layering

1. A method of plant propagation where a cut is made in the stem of the plant, wrapped with sphagnum moss in a water proof material, and the plant will form roots at this point., 2. a form of layering

akene

achene

alar

1. wing-shaped, 2. wing-like

alate

1. having wings or wing-like appendages, 2. winged

alatus (-a,-um)

1. wings, 2. Examples: Winged Burning Bush(Euonymus alata), Black-eyed Susan Vine (2) (Thunbergia alata)

alba

1. having a white color, 2. Example: White Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectablils alba), Cream Gentian (Gentiana alba), White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba var macrophylla )

albi-flora

1. white flowers, 2. Example: Variegated Inch Plant (Tradescantia albiflora albo-vittata)

albo

in a compound word meaning white

albo-aurea

1. white and gold(aurea), 2. Example: Gold-striped Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra Albo-aurea)

albo-maculata

1. spotted (maculata) in white

albo-marginate

1. white edged or margin, 2. Example:Silver Crown Hosta (Hosta undulata albo-marginata)

albo-striata

1. striped or striated in white

albo-vittata

1. with white stipes lengthwise (vittata), 2. Example: Variegated Inch Plant (Tradescantia albiflora albo-vittata)

algae

A very diverse group of plant-like (but not plants) organisms that are placed in the Protista Kingdom. They have no true roots, stems or leaves.

alkaline

1. substances that have a ph reading of over 7.0

alkaline soils

1. soils with a ph of over 7.0, 2. sweet soil

alien

1. an exotic plant, 2. a plant primarily of European or Asian origin that was accidentally or intentionally introduced into an area

alata

tall

alternate

1. branches or leaves attached to the side of the stem at different heights, on different sides, 2. alternate and are not straight across or opposite, 2. Example: Tricolor Beech (Fagus sylvatica Tricolor)

alternation of generation

alternating between the haploid gametophytes stage and the diploid sporophyte stage of the life cycle of a sexually reproducing organism

albomarginata

1. Having white veins, 2. Example: Silver Crown Hosta (Hosta undulata albo-marginata)

alburnum

1. sapwood, 2. most recently formed wood

alpina (alpinus, alpinum)

1. from an alpine area, 2. a dwarf plant, 2. Example: Alpine Columbine (Aquilegia alpina), Greenmound Alpine Current (Ribes alpinium)

alpine

above the tree line in mountainous areas

alpine house

a well ventilated cool greenhouse where the winter temperatures may go as low as 20 degrees F

apine lawn

an area planted to resemble a mountainous meadow

alpine plant

any plant that is normally found growing on mountains usually above the tree line

amaranth

1. a deep reddish purple to dark or grayish, purplish red, 2. any member of the genus Amaranthus; Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), Joesph's Coat (Amaranthus tricolor)

Amaryllis

A group of bulbous plants belonging to the Amarlyillidaceae family. Named after Amaryllis a beautiful shepherdess of classical poetry.

amblyanthus (amblyanthum, amblyantha)

a blunt flower

ament

1. many reduced, unisexual flowers borne close together on a common axis, with subtending scales, 2. catkin

amethystina

1. violet

amoena

pleasant, delightful

amphanthium

a dilated receptacle found in some inflorescences

amplectant

amplexicaul

amplexicaul

1. a leaf clasping the stem, 2 Examples: Common Sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus ), Spiny-Leaved Sow Thistle (Sonchus asper)

ampliate

expanded or enlarge

ampulla

a bladder or swelling

ampullaceous

swelling out like a bottle or a bladder

ananthous

lacking stamens

anathous

without or lacking flowers

anatrose

1. directed forward or upward, 2. retrose (opp)

androecium

1. male part of the flower, 2. collectively all the stamens

anemphilous

wind pollinated

angio

greek prefix meaning vessel

angiosperm

1. a class of plants that form their seed enclose in an ovary, 2. a class of plants that flower and the seeds are enclosed in a fruit, 3. in general terms a flowering plant

angular

having several outward or upward facing angles on the margin.

angustifolia

1. narrow leaves, 2. Examples Spreading Zinnia Star Mix (Zinnia angustifolia), Russian Olive (Eleagnus angustifolia ), to search for more uses of angustifolia

annual

1. plants that germinates, grows, flowers and sets seed in one growing season and than dies, 2. a plant that completes it's life cycle in one growing season

annual ring

1. one of the pattern of concentric circles formed during each growing season, 2. consists of an inner spring wood ring and an outer summerwood ring, 3. can be counted to determine the age of the plant

annular

ring like

annulus

a membranous ring around the stipe of a mushroom

annulus

a specialized ring of cells around the sporangia of a fern, aids in spore dispersal by a spring like action

anthecology

1. the study of the relationship between plants and pollinators, 2. interrelationship of flowers and flowering plants with their environments.

anther

part of the stamen that produces the pollen, usually located on the top of the filament

anther sac

pollen containing sac of the anther

anthesis

the period of flowering

anthesmotaxis

arrangement and organization of the various parts of a flower

anthine

in reference to flowers

anthium

a flower or a portion of a flower

Anthocerotophyta

A plant division consisting of nonvascular plants commonly called Hornworts. There are about 100 species of these distributed throughout the world.

anthocyanin

water soluble pigment found in plants responsible for creating pink, reds, blues, purples, etc.

anthomania

passion or fancy for flowers

anthomaniac

a person who is intensely fond of flowers

apetalous

1. flowers lacking petals , 2. Example: Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida), Mount Airy Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii Mt. Airy)

apex

tip or terminal end of a branch, leaf, etc.

apical

1. referring to the apex, 2. located at the tip

apical bud

stems growing tip

apical dominance

1. plants demonstrating strong apical growth with a dominant growing point, 2. many times the only way these plants will produce later branches is by removal of the apical tip, 3. Examples: Red Edge Dracaena (Dracaena marginata), Yucca (Yucca elephantipes), Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca conica), Ti Plant (Cordyline terminalis)

apical meristem

meristematic tissue located at the apex of a stem contributing cells to the length of the stem

apices

1. tip, 2. apex

apicula

apiculus

apiculate

1. ending abruptly in a small point, 2. Example: String of Peas ( Senecio rowleyanus)

apiculation

apiculus

apiculus

a small slender point

aphids

a sap sucking insect, comes in a variety of colors from clear to peach green to gray, soft bodied

appressed hairs

hairs that lie flat against the stem or surface of the leaves

apocarp

with carpels forming separate pistils

apocarpus

1. having the carpels separate, 2. flowers that have carpels separate and distinct

apothecium

cup-shaped fruiting body of some fungus or lichen

arachnoid

cobywebby, soft entangled hair

arbor

a light open structure formed either from plants, planted close together to be self supporting or formed from latticework frame covered with plants

arboraceous

tree-like

arboreal

1. tree-like, 2. living in trees, 3. pertaining to trees

arboreous

1. wooded, 2. woodland

arborescent

1. branching like a tree, 2. tree-like, 3. becoming a tree with the form and size, 3. Examples: Tree Jade (Crassula arborescence)

arboretum

1. a collection of trees, 2. a tree museum

arboriculture

the cultivation of trees and shrubs

arborist

a person involved in the pruning and care of trees

arching

curving gracefully

arcuate

arched, bent like a bow

areola

same as areole

areole

1. the area from which the spines of a cactus originate, 2. a raised cushion like structure characteristic of all cactus, 3. a small clearly marked area on the surface, 4. Example: Bunny Ears Cactus (Opuntia microdasys)

areolate

marked with areoles

argentatus (-a, -um)

silvered

argenteo

used in compound words to designate silver

argenteus(-a, um)

1. silvery, 2. Examples: Jade (Crassula argentea) gets silvery flecks on the leaves

argentinus (-a, -um)

from Argentina

aril

1. a fleshy seed coat, 2. extra seed coat, 3. an appendage or thickening of the seed coat

aromatic

1. having a scent, 2. Examples of plants with aromatic foliage: Purple Sage(Salvia officinalis purpurea), Lavender(Lavendula angustifolia Munstead), Lemon Scented Geranium (Pelargoium crispum), Scented Geranium Snowflake(Pelargonium capitatum Snowflake)

articulate

having nodes or joints where separation may naturally occur, such as Horse Tails (equisetum)

arvensis (arvense)

1. a weed found in cultivated fields, 2. Examples: Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense), Field Penny Crest (Thlaspi arvense)

asexual propagation

1. any of a number of forms of propagation other than seeds, 2. similar to vegetative propagation

asexual reproduction

1. a form of reproduction not involving the union of a male and female reproductive gamete, 2. reproduction other than the formation of a seed such as cuttings, division, a spore tc.

ascomycetes

1. a class of the Fungi kingdom, 2. common name is sac fungi, 3. yeast, morel, truffles, ergot of rye, Dutch Elm Disease, Chestnut Blight, etc.

astringent

foliage with a soapy or medicinal aroma because of the presence of saponium or other chemicals

atropurpurea

1. deep magenta, 2. Example: Rosey Glow Barberry (Berberis thunbergi atropupurea)

aurantica(-is,-um)

1. orange, 2. Example Purple Passion Plant (Gynura aurantica) has orange flowers

aureus (-a, -um)

1. golden, 2. Example: Golden Mach Orange (Philadelphus coronarius aureus)

auriculate

ear shaped extensions at the base of a leaf or some petals

autotrophs

1. organisms that produce their own energy by photosynthesis or chemeosynthesis , 2. autotrophs

autotroph

an autotrophic organism

awl-shaped

1. tapering from the base to a sharp point as in the leaves of an Arborvitae, Aloe, etc., 2. subulate

awn

1.a slender, stiff terminal bristle attached at its base to another structure or organ such as a leaf or grass stem

axil

1. the point of the angle between a stem or axis and a leaf, 2. the angle between the stem of the plant and the leaf growing from it

axillary

located in the axil of a leaf or a branch

axillary branch

1. a branch located in the axil of a branch, 2. Example:Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)

axillary inflorescence

1. buds found in the leaf axis, 2.Examples: Henbit (Labium amplexicaule), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

axillary bud

a bud located or arising from the axil

axis

1. the portion of a plant from which lateral branches arise, 2. the main stem of the plant

azotobacter

a genus of nitrogen fixing bacteria

azureum

light blue