A Flashcards
1
Q
a-
A
Prefix meaning without, lacking; e.g., apetalous
2
Q
abaxial
A
lower surface
3
Q
abcission
A
separation of one structure from another, as with leaf from stem or petal from flower receptacle; the result of cells breaking down at the base of the falling structure.
4
Q
acaulescent
A
lacking an above-ground stem
Antonym: caulescent
5
Q
accessory fruit
A
fruit whose flesh is partially or wholly derived from non-ovary tissue (often from the receptacle); e.g., strawberries (Fragaria)
6
Q
accrescent
A
growing larger after flower maturity, most often applied to the calyx
7
Q
acerose
A
three-dimensional needle-shaped
Synonym: acicular
8
Q
achene
A
small, dry, indehiscent fruit derived from a unicarpellate pistil; e.g., clematis (Clematis)
9
Q
achlorophyllous
A
lacking chlorophyll; e.g., parasitic plants such as Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
10
Q
acicular
A
three-dimensionally needle-shaped
Synonym: acerose
11
Q
acidophilous
A
acid-loving, as with many plants that grow better in acidic soil
12
Q
acorn
A
the nut fruit of oaks (Quercus), which is embedded in a scaly cup and has a single seed
13
Q
acropetal
A
growing toward the tip of the shoot or root
Antonym: basipetal
14
Q
actinomorphic
A
having multiple planes of symmetry such that any line drawn through the middle produces two mirror-image halves, usually applied to flowers
Synonym: radially symmetrical, regular
Antonym:bilaterally symmetrical, irregular, zygomorphic
15
Q
aculeate
A
having prickles
16
Q
acuminate
A
tapering to a point with concave margins
Concave: curving in
17
Q
acute
A
pointed with the sides straight or nearly so and forming a <90 degree angle, applied to both the base and apex of leaves
18
Q
adaxial
A
upper surface
19
Q
adherent
A
unlike structures stuck together but not fused
20
Q
adnate
A
unlike structures fused together, as stamens to petals
21
Q
adventitious
A
structures arising in areas other than those in which they normally occur, most often applied to roots arising from shoots or leaves
22
Q
adventive
A
relatively recently escaped and spreading non-native species; less established than naturalized species
23
Q
aerial
A
occurring or produced above the soil or water; e.g., aerial roots
24
Q
aerial bulb
A
bud usually produced in leaf axils that can give rise to a new plant; e.g., plantlets on cycad trunks
Synonym: bulbel, bulbil
25
aerial root
root produced above ground, such as those produced along the climbing stem of poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
26
aestivation, estivation
arrangement of perianth parts in bud; see also vernation
vernation: arrangement of leaves in bud
Synonym: ptyxis
27
afterripening
period of rest (also called dormancy) that some seeds must go through before being able to germinate
28
agamospermy
production of viable seeds without fertilization, without sexual reproduction
29
aggregate fruit
formed from the fusion of multiple, separate unicarpellate pistils in a single flower, may consist of tiny versions of one of many different fruit types including samaras, drupes, achenes, follicles, etc.; e.g., raspberries and blackberries (Rubus)
Synonym: etaerio
30
air plant
a plant that grows attached to another plant but which does not parasitize that plant, often specifically refers to epiphytic bromeliads in the genus Tillandsia
31
alate
winged with expanded and flattened tissue; e.g, stems and fruits of winged elm (Ulmus alata) and stems of winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
32
allelopathy
phenomenon in which a plant secretes compounds that interfere with the growth, reproduction, or continued survival of other plants around it; e.g., black walnut (Juglans nigra)
33
allopatric
occurring in different areas, as with two species whose distributions do not overlap
Antonym: sympatric
34
alpine plants
plants that grow in high-elevation areas above where trees grow (i.e., above the tree line); these are the plants traditionally and most commonly grown in rock gardens
35
alternate
1. occurring one per node, as with leaves interspersed on a stem,
2. occurring one following the other in a series, as with petals alternating with sepals in a flower when viewed from above or below
36
alternate bearing
producing abundant fruit every other year, and minimal to no fruit in the alternating year
Synonym: biennial bearing
37
alternipetalous
said of floral parts whose positions in the flower alternate with those of the petals
38
alternisepalous
said of floral parts whose positions in the flower alternate with those of the sepals
39
alveolate
honeycomb-like with neatly arranged depressions and ridges
Synonym- faveolate, favose
40
ament
usually pendulous spike-like inflorescence of unisexual, sessile to subsessile, apetalous flowers
Synonym: catkin
41
amplexicaul
clasping the stem without fully encircling it, as with a leaf, stipule, or bract
42
ampulla
bottle-shaped or spherical swelling
43
anastomosing
reconnection of branches resulting in the formation of a network; e.g., reticulate venation
44
anchor root
adventitious root emerging from the lower part of a trunk and acting as a structural support for a tree
Synonym: brace root, prop root, stilt root
45
ancipital
flattened, with two edges
46
androecium
male reproductive portion of the flower, consists of stamens
47
androgynophore
stalk elevating the androecium and gynoecium above the perianth, as in passionflowers (Passiflora)
48
androphore
stalk bearing the stamens
49
anemophilous
pollinated by wind
50
angiosperm
plant bearing flowers that have ovules inside of ovaries that develop into seeds inside of fruits
51
anisomerous
having an unequal number of parts in the floral whorls
52
anisophyllous
opposite leaves of unequal size and/or shape
53
annual
plant whose entire life cycle occurs in one year: it grows from seed, flowers, produces seeds, and dies
54
annular
shaped like a ring, as in a nectary disk
55
annulus
line of cells along the sporangium wall that plays an important role in sporangium dehiscence and spore dispersal in ferns
56
antepetalous, antipetalous
directly in front of the petals, as with stamens occurring opposite the petals, not alternating with them
57
antesepalous, antisepalous
directly in front of the sepals, as with stamens occurring opposite the sepals, not alternating with them
58
anther
pollen-bearing part of stamen
59
antheridium
(plural antheridia) male, sperm-bearing reproductive structure of ferns, lycophytes, and non-vascular plants
60
anther sac
one of typically two chambers inside of each anther, usually bears pollen
Synonym: theca
61
anthesis
peak flower maturity, flower is open and sexually fertile
62
anthocarp
seed-bearing structure resembling and often mistaken for a fruit but for which the majority of the tissue is non-ovary (may be from such structures as a hypanthium or receptacle);e.g., rose hips (Rosa)
Synonym: false fruit, pseudocarp
63
anthocyanin
blue,red, and purple pigments in plants, type of flavonoid, water-soluble
64
anthophore
stalk between the point of attachment of the calyx and the rest of the flower (corolla, androecium, gynoecium)
65
anthoxanthin
white and yellow pigments in plants, type of flavonoid, water soluble
66
ant-plant
a plant that has a mutualistic relationship with ants
| Synonym: myrmecophyte
67
antrorse
pointing up or toward the apex
Antonym: retrorse
68
aperture
opening, specifically refers to those in the exile of pollen grains
69
apetalous
lacking petals
70
apex
(plural apices) tip; opposite the base a furthest from point of attachment
Antonym: base
71
aphyllous
lacking leaves
72
apical
at or of the apex, as in apical placentation
73
apical dominance
terminal bud's control over vertical growth of the main stem and elongating growth of branches by growing more vigorously than, and limiting, the growth of lateral buds; this phenomenon gives rise to the typical for of trees
74
apiculate
coming to an abrupt, short point
75
apiculum, apiculus
an abrupt p, short point
76
apo-
prefix meaning apart, detached, or separate
77
apocarpous
gynoecium consisting of two to many separate, unfused carpels (simple pistils)
Antonym: syncarpous
78
apomictic
reproducing asexually from the flower or fruit, often used synonymously with agamospermy
79
apomixis
asexual reproduction involving the flower or fruit, often used synonymously with agamospermy
80
appendage
structure arising from another, larger, structure
81
appressed
close against another structure but not fused to it
82
aquatic
plant growing in water seasonally or continuously
83
arborescent
tree-like in form but not a true tree; e.g., banana (Musa), which is an herbaceous plant with a trunk made up of leaf bases
84
archegonium
(plural archegonia) female, egg- bearing reproductive structure of ferns, lycophytes, and non-vascular plants
85
arctic
growing north of the arctic circle
86
arcuate
arching or curved;e.g., arcuate venation
87
areola
small area distinct from nearby areas; in leaves, the space created by the joining of veins; in the cactus family (Cactaceae), the area on the stem that produces spines, gkochids, flowers, etc.
88
aril, arillus
fleshy outgrowth of the funicle or hilum, subtending to encompassing a seed;e.g., lychee (Litchi chinensis) and yews (Taxus)
89
arista
a bristle, usually terminating a leaf or other structure
Synonym awn
90
aristate
terminating in a long bristle
91
armature
prickles, spines, thorns,etc.
92
articulation
notch or joint, often the location at which two sides or organs separate
93
ascending
pointing or growing upward in an arching or curving fashion
94
ascidiate
pitcher-shaped, as in the water-holding leaves of pitcher plants (Sarracenia)
95
asepalous
lacking sepals
96
asexual
without sex, as with individuals or reproduction
97
asymmetrical
having two sides or halves that are unequal in size and/or shape, usually applied to leaf bases
Synonym: oblique
98
atropurpurea
dark purple
99
attenuate
gradually narrowing to a point
100
auricle
earlobe-shaped appendage, as in some leaf bases
101
auriculate
earlobe-shaped; having auricles
Synonym: eared
102
autogamy
self-pollination, self-compatibility
103
awn
a bristle, usually terminating a leaf or other structure
Synonym: arista
104
axil
upper angle of the junction between a stem and another stem, leaf, or reproductive structure
105
axile
1. Of the axis;
| 2. attached to the axis , as in axile placentation
106
axillary
at the junction between a stem and another stem or another organ, most often used in reference to buds
107
axis
central vertical portion of a structure, to which parts of that structure are often attached, as with an inflorescence and its branches or a flower and its whorls
