Plant Characteristics
A list of specialist words which might be used in field guides ... more.A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Abaxial : | The side or surface facing away from the axis, usually the lower surface. |
Parent Term: | Position |
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Abscission : | The normal shedding of an organ that is mature or aged, e.g. an old leaf, a ripe fruit. |
Parent Term: | Petiole_(simple_lf) |
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Acaulescent : | Stemless, or with no visible stem |
Parent Term: | Habit |
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Accrescent calyx : | Enlarging after maturity, as the stem or the calyx of some plants after flowering. |
Parent Term: | Fruit_details |
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Achene : | A dry, indehiscent, single-seeded fruit, e.g. Asteraceae, Rosaceae; in a strict sense developed from a superior ovary of one carpel |
Parent Term: | Dehiscent |
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Acicular : | Needlelike, round or grooved in cross section. |
Parent Term: | Shapes__3d |
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Acidic : | - |
Parent Term: | Taste |
Acrodromous : | With two or more primary or strongly developed secondary veins diverging at or above the base of the blade and running in convergent arches toward the apex over some or all of the blade length, the arches not basally curved. |
Parent Term: | Leaf_venation_(hickey) |
Difficulty Level: |
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Actinodromous : | With three or more primary veins diverging radially from a single point at or above the base of the blade and running toward the margin, reaching it or not. |
Parent Term: | Leaf_venation_(hickey) |
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Actinomorphic : | Of flowers, radially symmetrical; symmetrical about more than one plane passing through the axis of the flower, like a star. |
Parent Term: | Symmetry |
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Aculeate : | Prickly. |
Parent Term: | Spines__prickles_etc |
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Acuminate : | Apex of leaf tapering very gradually at tip; long acuminate implies this apical section is particularly prolonged, as in drip tip. |
Parent Term: | Apex_of_leaf_blade |
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Acute : | Apex of leaf pointed, with more or less straight sides. |
Parent Term: | Apex_of_leaf_blade |
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Adaxial : | The side or surface facing towards the axis, normally the upper surface. |
Parent Term: | Position |
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Adventitious : | (Shoot or root) arising on stem, bole or boughs. |
Parent Term: | Tree_bole |
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Aerial roots : | - |
Parent Term: | Bole |
Show examples » | |
Aestivation : | The arrangement of floral parts in the bud, e.g. IMBRICATE. |
Parent Term: | Tepal |
Child Terms: |
Contorted Imbricate Valvate |
Difficulty Level: |
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Alternate leaf : | - |
Parent Term: | Leaf_arrangement |
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Amplexicaul : | Of a leaf base, clasping the stem. |
Parent Term: | Leaf_base |
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Anastomosing : | Forming a network; usually applied to the veins in a leaf, or to fissures and ridges in bark. |
Parent Term: | Venation |
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Androecium : | - |
Parent Term: | Flower_part |
Synonyms: |
Male parts
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Child Terms: |
Androphore Monadelphous Stamen Staminode |
Difficulty Level: |
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Androecium (male parts) : | - |
Parent Term: | Flower_part |
Androgynophore : | A stalk above the level of the insertion of the perianth, bearing both the androecium and the gynoecium. |
Parent Term: | Flower_part |
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Androphore : | A stalk supporting a group of stamens. |
Parent Term: | Androecium |
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Angiosperm : | A seed-bearing plant with ovules, and hence seeds, developing within an ovary. |
Parent Term: | Plant_groups |
Plural: | Angiospermae |
Synonyms: |
Flowering plant
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Angles : | - |
Parent Term: | General_terms |
Child Terms: |
Descending Divergent Reflexed Surcurrent |
Annual : | A plant that completes its life cycle within a year. |
Parent Term: | Habit |
Plural: | Annuals |
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Anther : | Section of the male part of the flower (Stamen) which contains pollen. |
Parent Term: | Stamen |
Plural: | Anthers |
Child Terms: |
Pollen |
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Apetalous : | Without petals. |
Parent Term: | Corolla |
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Apex of leaf blade : | End part, or tip, furthest away from main axis of plant |
Parent Term: | Outline_of_leaf_blade |
Plural: | Leaf Apices |
Child Terms: |
Acuminate Acute Apiculate Apiculate Aristate Caudate Caudate Cuspidate Drip_tip Emarginate Mucronate Obtuse Truncate Mucro Mucronulate Retuse Drip-tipped |
Difficulty Level: |
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Show examples » | |
Apical bud : | - |
Parent Term: | Bud |
Plural: | Apical buds |
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Apiculate : | With an ?apiculum? or short point: i.e. leaves, petals etc. ending abruptly in a short, flexible point. Not as stiff or sharp as mu |
Parent Term: | Apex_of_leaf_blade |
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Appendage : | - |
Parent Term: | Attachment |
Plural: | Appendages |
Synonyms: |
Appendix
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Appendage Appendix : | - |
Parent Term: | Attachment |
Appressed : | - |
Parent Term: | Hairs |
Arachnoid : | Cobwebby. |
Parent Term: | Hairs |
Difficulty Level: |
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Areola Areole : | - |
Parent Term: | Venation |
Areole : | - |
Parent Term: | Venation |
Plural: | Areolae |
Synonyms: |
Areola
Areoles |
Difficulty Level: |
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Aril : | Thin fleshy covering of whole or part of seed inside the fruit (inside pericarp); usually brightly coloured. |
Parent Term: | Fruit_details |
Plural: | Arils |
Difficulty Level: |
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Aristate : | Like apiculate, but strictly, the point finer and longer (strictly with length more than 3 times width), and straight and stiff. Th |
Parent Term: | Apex_of_leaf_blade |
Difficulty Level: |
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Arms : | - |
Parent Term: | Plant_parts |
Plural: | Arms |
Synonyms: |
Spines, thorns, prickles
Armaments |
Difficulty Level: |
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Articulate : | (Petiole) swollen or deformed at a point, with a bendable joint (like an elbow, which makes an arm articulate). |
Parent Term: | Petiole_(simple_lf) |
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Ascending : | Of lateral nerves, arching upwards, towards the apex. |
Parent Term: | Venation |
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Asperous : | Scabrid, i.e. with a rough surface. |
Parent Term: | Hairs |
Synonyms: |
Asperate
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Astringent : | Bitter or strange acidic taste which leaves mouth peculiarly dry, like skin of some unripe fruits. |
Parent Term: | Taste |
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Asymmetric : | Not symmetrical in any sense (neither actinomorphic nor zygomorphic). |
Parent Term: | Leaf_blade_shape |
Difficulty Level: |
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Attachment : | - |
Parent Term: | General_terms |
Plural: | Attachments |
Child Terms: |
Appendage Caducous Clasping Connate Connivent Contiguous Persistent Sessile Stipe Appendage__appendix |
Auriculate : | With ear-like lobe, usually at base of leaf or leaflet; very deeply cordate. |
Parent Term: | Leaf_base |
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Awn : | A bristle-like appendage, as on the apical part of some stipules. |
Parent Term: | Fruit_details |
Plural: | Awns |
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Axil : | The corner where a structure meets the axis from which it branches (e.g. the armpit is in the axil of a human arm); the nerve axil |
Parent Term: | Position |
Plural: | Axils |
Difficulty Level: |
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Axile : | On the central axis of the ovary. |
Parent Term: | Placenta |
Difficulty Level: |
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Axillary : | In an axil. e.g. axillary bud as distinct from apical bud. |
Parent Term: | Position |
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Axis : | Main stem or channel from which branches or other parts arise (e.g. twig, bough). |
Parent Term: | General_terms |
Plural: | Axes |
Difficulty Level: |
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