Botany word of the day

Labellar, Labium: referring to a lip

2016-01-26T13:20:00.000+13:00

Labellar la-bel’ar n.

labellum la-bel’um n.

labiate la-be-it n

labium la-be-um n.

(L. labia: a lip)
A petal that is the lowest and largest and forms a lip. In orchids the usually large middle petal.

Winika cunninghamii

pekapeka

Orchidaceae

December.

An epiphytic orchid showing the resupinate (twisted) upper petal.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Samara: A dry indehiscent winged fruit.

2016-01-21T14:35:00.000+13:00

samara sam-ar’a n.

samaroid sam-a’roid adj.

(L. samera: the seed of the elm)
A dry indehiscent winged fruit.

Dodonaea viscosa

akeake

Sapindaceae

The capsule may have 2 or 3 compressed broad wings.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Thorn A short, pointed and leafless branch

2016-01-20T09:02:00.000+13:00

Thorn thorn n.

A short, pointed and leafless branch developed from a bud.

Discaria toumatou,

wild Irishman, matagouri

Rhamnaceae

The secondary lateral branches in matagouri are reduced to short thorns.

Photo: Liz vander Laarse

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Tortuose: Twisted, winding or bent irregularly.

2016-01-17T10:29:00.000+13:00

Tortuose, tortuous

tor’tu-os adj.

(L. tortus: a twist)
Twisted, winding or bent irregularly.

Blechnum novae-zelandiae

gully fern,

kiokio

Blechnaceae

Gully fern is dimorphic with a photosynthetic and a reproductive frond. The reproductive frond with its display of reproductive pinnae that are bent and twisted in random directions.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Abaxial: The back, lower or bottom of the leaf.

2016-01-14T11:05:00.000+13:00

Abaxial

ab-aks’i-al adj.

(L.ab: from; axis: axle)
Away from the axis.The back, lower or bottom of the leaf.

Syn. dorsal and is contrasted with adaxial, the top or upper surface of the leaf.

Meryta sinclairii

puka

Araliaceae

A gust of wind lifts the large obovate leaf to reveal the adaxial and the abaxial surfaces. The coriaceous and glossy leaves may be up to 50x20cm with slightly undulate margins and are crowded at the apices of the branchlets.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Acuminate: Tapering to a fine point with the sides more or less concave.

2016-01-13T10:55:00.000+13:00

Acuminate a’cu-min’it adj.

(L. acumen: a sharpened point, a sting)
Tapering to a fine point with the sides more or less concave. Drawn out and longer than acute. Compare with attenuate.

Geniostoma ligustrifolium hangehange

Loganiaceae

The glabrous and ovate leaves are abruptly narrowed to an acuminate apex.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Obconic: The shape of a geometric dome but connected so the thin end is basal

2016-01-10T09:40:00.000+13:00

Obconic ob-kon-ik adj.

obconical ob-kon-ik-ol adj.

(L. ob-: toward, for, about, before, inversely, opposed to, Gr. konos; cone)

The shape of a geometric dome but connected so the thin end is basal and the broad end is apical.

Gunnera prorepens

Gunneraceae

March

Brightly red and obconic-globose drupes are borne on a scape.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Costa: A rib, especially the midvein of a leaf.

2016-01-09T10:38:00.000+13:00

Costa, kos’ta n.

Pl. costae kos’ti

costate kos’tat adj.

Dim. costule kos’tyul

(L.costa: a rib)

Referring to a rib, especially the midvein of a leaf.

Pouteria costata

tawapou
Sapotaceae

Dark green lustrous leaves have the midrib elevated above and below. The pinnate primary veins likewise.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Exserted: Projecting out, not included.

2016-01-08T13:04:00.000+13:00

Exserted ik-surt’id adj.

(L. exsertus: thrust forward, protruding, projecting)
Projecting out, not included.

Phyllocladus trichomanoides

tanekaha celery pine

Phyllocladaceae

March

The seed of Tanekaha is exserted beyond the cupule. Fruits are borne on the margins of the leaf-like but actually stem called a phylloclade.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Enation: An abnormal growth or projection of an organ.

2016-01-07T15:45:00.000+13:00

Enation e-na’shun n.

(L. enato; from enascor: to sprout, to be born, arise)
An abnormal growth or projection of an organ.

Tmesipteris sigmatifolia

Whisk fern

Psilotaceae

May

These abnormal leaf like structures with a mucronate apex each have a simple midrib. Veins are absent. These ambiguous leaf-like structures are outgrowths of the stem and can be compared with the flattened lobes of a branching thallus. Tmesipteris is an epiphyte on tree ferns Dawsonia and Cyathodes. Note the sporangia in leaf axils

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Rosette: A group of leaves radiating from a centre, with numerous overlapping leaves

2016-01-06T08:52:00.000+13:00

Rosette ro-zet n. rosulate roz-yu’lit n.

(L. rosula: little rose)
A Plant form with groups of leaves radiating from a centre with short inter-nodes and numerous overlapping leaves usually close to the soil.

Cilmesia spectabilis

mountain daisy

Asteraceae

This acaulescent herb forms mats or cushions of dead leaves. The living leaves are in rosettes at the tip of usually hidden branchlets.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Glome: A very dense cluster.

2016-01-04T08:22:00.000+13:00

Glome gloom n.

glomerate glom-er’it adj.

Dim. glomerule glom-e’rool glomerulate glom’er-yo-lit adj.

(L. glomero: to form into a ball, to gather into a round heap)

A very dense cluster.

An inflorescence that is condensed into the form of a head or approaching it.

Geniostoma ligustrifolium

hangehange.

Loganiaceae March

Seeds are crowded together to form a glomerule. The capsule splits longitudinally from the axis to display the seed for birds to consume and disperse.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Funnelform: Flower shape with the corolla tube gradually widening upwards

2016-01-03T10:48:00.000+13:00

Funnelform fun’ol-form adj.

(L. infundo; to pour into or on; forma: shape)
With the corolla tube gradually widening upwards. Shaped like a funnel. Syn. infundibuliform. When the tube widens abruptly it is termed salverform.

Pisonia brunoniana parapara

Nyctaginaceae

December

The inflorescence is a many flowered terminal cyme. The perianth is greenish-white and pubescent.

If you like this website you will love this iBook. Buy now for your iPad from the IBookstore. An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms is by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Explanate: Extending or spreading in a flat or horizontal form.

2016-01-01T09:17:00.000+13:00

Explanate eks-plan-it adj.

(L. explano: to flatten, spread out)
Extending or spreading in a flat or horizontal form.

Hypnodendron comatum

umbrella moss

Hypnodendraceae

The erect stem bears horizontal branched fronds at its tip.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Crenate: With shallow rounded teeth.

2015-12-30T14:03:00.000+13:00

Crenate kre-nat adj.

crenation kre-na’shon n.

(L. crena: a notch)
With shallow rounded teeth. Scalloped.

Streblus banksii

turepo, large-leaved milk tree

Moraceae

The leaves display the fine to deeply crenate margins.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Sinus: The area between two lobes or segments

2015-12-29T10:21:00.000+13:00

Sinus si’nos n.

(L. sinus: curve, hollow)
The area between two lobes or segments. In Hebe, the gap between the two leaves of an opposite pair inside the leaf bud.

Hebe venustula

Plantaginceae

The sinus is a useful feature for identifying species of Hebe. Here the outer leaves of the leaf bud have been removed to show the inner leaves and the small gap between them.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Pulvinate: Cushion like form.

2015-12-28T08:40:00.000+13:00

Pulvinate pul’ve-nat adj.

pulviniform pul-ve’ni-form adj.

(L. pulvinus: a cushion)
Cushion like form.

Scleranthus biflorus

Caryophyllaceae

This closely branched herb forms a low growing mat that is attached to the soil by a central root system.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Sessile: Without a stalk or petiole. When a leaf, flower, inflorescence, peduncle or pedicel attaches directly to the stem.

2015-12-27T08:46:00.000+13:00

Sessile ses’il adj.

(L. sessilis: pertaining to sitting)

Without a stalk or petiole.
When a leaf, flower, inflorescence, peduncle or pedicel attaches directly to the stem.

Flower attachment

Rhopalostylis sapida

nikau palm

Arecaceae

September

Tightly packed sessile male flowers are delicately attached to the pedicel.

Ackama rosaefolia

makamaka

Cunoniaceae

November

A panicle branch shows the sessile flowers with stamens projecting outwards from the petals.

Leaf Attachment

Pseudopanax gilliesii

Araliacea

A 3 foliolate Compound leaf with petioles to 4 cm. long. The ovate leaflets are sessile or subsessile and sharply serrate in the upper half.

Blechnum fluviatile.

kiwikiwi, creek fern

Blechnaceae

There may be found up to 50 alternate and sessile pinnae on each frond.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Hispid: Clad in stiff bristle like hairs.

2015-12-25T08:37:00.000+13:00

Hispid his-pid adj.

(L. hispidus: rough, shaggy)

Dim. Hispidulous his-pid’yu-los ;

hispidissimus his’pid-iss’i-mos very hairy
Clad in stiff bristle like hairs.

Carpodetus serratus

putaputaweta

Rousseaceae

Juvenile plants have slender and flexuous branchlets. The broadly ovate leaves are irregularly serrate and clothed in many hispidulous hairs.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Crown shaft: Sheathing leaf bases at the apex of a palm trunk.

2015-12-24T09:09:00.000+13:00

Crown shaft n

The overlapping, sheathing leaf bases at the apex of a palm trunk.

Rhopalostylis sapida

Nikau Palm

Arecaceae

The dark green, smooth and bulging crownshaft protects developing frond and flower buds.

Last seasons flowers have formed this seasons fruits. They change colour to red on maturation.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Node: Where one or more leaves are attached

2015-12-23T08:43:00.000+13:00

Node, nod-n

nodal nod-ol adj.

nodiferous no-dif’or-os adj.

(L. nodus: a knot)
Pertaining to a node. A place on a stem where one or more leaves are attached. See internode

Nestegis lanceolata

white maire

Oleaceae

The leaves that arise from each node are opposite each other.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Silky: With a covering of very fine lustrous hairs.

2015-12-22T15:48:00.000+13:00

Silky sil’ke adj

With a covering of very fine lustrous hairs.

Pimelea villosa

sand daphne

Thymelaeaceae

Sand daphne has elliptic-ovate close set leaves. The upperside of the leaf is glaucous and glabrous. The lowerside and margin displays the densely covered appressed and white hairs.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Septicidal: Dividing along a septum.

2015-12-21T12:09:00.000+13:00

Septicidal sep’ti-sid’l adj.

septifragal sep’ti-frag’l adj.(L. sepes: a hedge, fence, divider; caedere: to cut or divide; fractor: fracture) Dividing along a septum.

Juncus edgarei,

Edgars rush

Juncaceae

May

The fruit is an obovoid, golden brown capsule that splits on dehiscence to reveal numerous seeds in each of the two or three loculi.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms

Over 650 photos and explanations for 1500 botanical terms
Buy the iBook from the iBookstore.

Dentate: With sharp teeth.

2015-12-19T10:45:00.000+13:00

Dentate den-tate adj. dentoid den-toid adj.

(dens, dentis : a tooth)
With sharp teeth. Compare with serrate.

Dicksonia squarrosa

wheki ponga

Dicksoniaceae

Scruffy ponga with “teeth” on the pinnule margins.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.

Orientation: The angle of a structure relative to a central axis.

2015-12-18T09:50:00.000+13:00

orientation or’e-en-ta’shon adj.

(L. orients: the quarter where the sun rises, in relation to a point on the compass))

The angle of a structure relative to a central axis.

If you like this website you'll love this iBook.

An Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms by Tony Foster, the author of this blog.

Buy now for your iPad from the iBookstore.