Botany word of the day illustrated. A Glossary of Botanical terms

Channel: A tubular passage, groove or trench.

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Channel chan-el n.

(L. canalis: a pipe, tube channel esp. a water pipe, gutter)
A tubular passage, groove or trench.

Cordyline banksii

ti ngahere, forest cabbage tree

Laxmanniaceae

The channeled petiole directs rain that falls on the leaf to the base of the plant. The channel also gives structural support to the lamina which may be up to one meter long.

Cauliflory: Flowers from the trunks and branches of trees.

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Cauliflory kor’li-flor’e adj.

cauliflorous kor’li-flor’os adj.

caulicolous kor-li-ko-lus adj.

(L. caulis: the stalk or stem of a plant; floris: flower)
The production of flowers from the trunks and branches of trees. Compare with ramiflory

Dysoxylum spectabile

kohekohe

Meliaceae

June

Panicles of tubular flowers arise directly from the trunk in mid winter.

Caudes: A trunk or stem of ferns and palms. Not made of wood.

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Caudes Ko’des n.

caudex ko’deks Pl. caudices ko’di-sez

(L. caudex: the trunk of a tree, stem)
A trunk or stem of ferns and palms. Not made of wood.

Cyathea dealbata

silver fern

ponga

Cyatheaceae

A dead trunk with stipe scars. This curious pattern is the result of the attachment of frond stipites to the trunk. More commonly the trunk is clothed in the stipe bases and a covering of matted hairs termed palea.

Cataphyll: Scale leaf.

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Cataphyll, cataphyllum

Kat’a-fil n.

(Gr. kata: against; contrasting, phyllum: leaf)
Scale leaf. A small, simplified leaf like organ often dry, flakey and membranous.

Ripogonum scandens

supplejack

Ripogonaceae

Brown and scabrid scale leaves are found at nodes of the twining stems.

Candelabraform: A branching pattern with several radiating arms or branches.

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Candelabraform Kan’dl-a’bra-form adj.

(L. candela: a candle candelabrum: a candle stick, chandelier forma: shape)
A branching pattern similar to candle sticks, with several radiating arms or branches.

Dracophyllum latifolium

neinei

Ericaceae

Leaves are in dense clusters at the apex of branches. Puketi Forest Northland

Uncinate: Terminating in a hook.

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uncinate un’si-nat adj.

(L. uncus: hook)
Terminating in a hook.

Uncinia distans

hook grass

Cyperaceae

July

Termed utricles, the small dark brown achenes have a long stipe with a recurved beak or hook that is minutely scabrid. The seeds of hook grass easily adhere to human’s legs or animal’s coats.

Bullate: With the surface blistered or puckered.

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Bullate bull-late adj.

(L. bulla: a bubble)
With the surface blistered or puckered.

Lophomyrtus bullata

ramarama

Myrtaceae

The aptly named shrub or small tree with crumpled leaves.

Apomixis: Reproduction without sexual reproduction.

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Apomixis ap’o-mik’sis n. apomictic ap’o-mik-tik adj.

(Gr.apo: away, mixis: mixing)
Reproduction without sexual reproduction. In apomictic flowers viable seed is produced without fertilisation of the ova by pollen.

Coprosma robusta

karamu

Rubiaceae

January

Karamu is a shrub or small tree of coastal, lowland and montane forests throughout

New Zealand

. The female plants make an impressive site when they are heavy with berry. The large amount of berries produced is thought to be a result of self pollination.

Phyllary: One of the bracts of the involucre of flowers of Asteraceae.

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Phyllary fil-lar’e n.

(Gr. phyllarion: little leaf)
One of the bracts of the involucre of flowers of Asteraceae. Syn. tegule

Olearia furfuracea

akepiro

Asteraceae

December

Bracts of the florets are imbricate in several series.

Bole: The trunk of a tree.

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Bole bol n.
The trunk of a tree.

Agathis australis

kauri

Araucariaceae

The awesome forest giant of Northern New Zealand with a massive bole producing vast quantities of timber. Note the spiral taper that strengthens and supports the tree.

Decussate: Leaves that are opposite with successive pairs crossing at right angles.

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Decussate di-kus’ate adj.

(L. decussatim: in the form of the number ten (X))
Leaves that are opposite with successive pairs crossing at right angles.

Hebe albicans

Plantaginaceae

A handsome and striking plant with bold and glaucous foliage. Decussate leaves are characteristic of many Hebe.

Indusium: Tissue covering the sorus of a fern or a pollen cup

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Indusium in-dju’ze-im n.

Pl. indusia in-dju’ze-a

(L. indusium: a woman’s skirt)
Botanists have two separate meanings for this word

Tissue covering the sorus of a fern.

Adiantum cunninghamii

maidenhair

June

The reniform- lunulate indusia are found at the sinus of shallow lobes of the pinnule margin.Note the forked veins.

The “pollen cup” surrounding the stigma in family Goodeniaceae.

Selliera radicans

Goodeniaceae

The pink and reniform indusium is at the tip of the style and encourages fertilisation by capturing pollen. Note the irregular and split corolla. Selliera is usually 5-merous; however this individual has a corolla of 6 petals.

Pilose: Bearing soft hairs.

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Pilose pi’los adj.

(L. pilo: to put forth hair, to grow hair)
Dim.pilosulose
Bearing soft hairs.

Nertera dichondrifolia

Rubiaceae

Broadly ovate leaves with subappressed and arcuate hairs cover the lamina, leaf margins, petioles and stems.

Compound: Made of 2 or more similar parts.

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Compound kom’pound adj.

(L. compositura: a joining together, connection)

Composed of 2 or more similar parts. In particular a compound leaf. See compound inflorescence in paracladium

Pseudopanax laetus

The leaves are 5 or 7 foliolate on stout petioles to 25cm, stipulately sheathing at their base. The petiolules are short or subsessile and hold the obovate-oblong lamina.

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Stamen: The male sex organ consisting of anther, connective and filament

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Stamen stam’en n.

(L. stamen: a thread)
The male sex organ consisting of anther, connective and filament

Sophora chathamica

kowhai

Fabaceae

September

The elongated white filaments hold the 2-lobed yellow anthers that are bound by the connective. The anthers are connected basally-basifixed- to the filament.

Asymmetric: With one side larger than the other.

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Asymmetric a’sim-met’rik adj.

asymmetrical a’sim-met’rik-al adj.

(L.a-: not; symmetria: proportion, symmetry.)
With one side larger than the other. Having a different shape on each side of the axis.

Elatostema rugosum

parataniwha

Urticaceae

This herb to 0.5m. found in damp or shaded areas often on stream sides, shows the obovate- oblong leaf that is sharply and coarsely serrate.

Buttress: Enlarged, spreading and thickened roots

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buttress but’ris roots n.

buttressed adj
Enlarged, spreading and thickened roots at the base of trees that aid in support.

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides

kahikatea

Podocarpaceae

The spreading trunks of kahikatea on farmland of the Hauraki Plains.

Buttresses are common on trees that live in damp and swampy ground.

Asperite: A rough outgrowth.

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Asperite as’per-ite n.

asperous, as’per-os adj.

Dim. asperulous as-per-yu’los adj.

(L.asper: rough, uneven touch)

A rough outgrowth.

Rough to the touch. Compare with rugose.

Doodia australis

rasp fern

Blechnaceae

The harsh and coriaceous pinnae with a sharply serrate and mucronate margin.

Assurgent: Rising in a curve to an erect position.

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Assurgent a’sir-jent adj.

(L. ad: to; surgere: to rise)
Rising in a curve to an erect position.

Arthropodium cirratum

renga lily

Laxmanniaceae

June

Germination of rengalily seeds. The single cotyledon rises up to a vertical position.

Arista: An awn or stiff bristle projecting from an organ.

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Arista a’ris-ta n.

Dim. aristula a’ris-tyu’la

aristate a’ris-tat adj.

Dim. aristulate a’ris-tyu’lit

(L. arista: The awn or beard from an ear of grain, corn.)
An awn or stiff bristle projecting from an organ.

Lycopodiella cernua

Staghorn club moss

Lycopodaceae

Crowded recurved leaves with a stiff bristle at each apex.

Articulate: With nodes or joints where parts may bend or separate.

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Articulate ar-tik-yu-lit adj.

(L. articulus, articulo: to divide into joints or natural divisions)
With nodes or joints where parts may bend or separate.

Arthropodium cirratum

renga lily

Laxmanniaceae

December

Each flower shows the bend or articulation about the middle of the grey pedicel with the white petaloid above the bend.

Aril: An appendage to a seed, often pulpy and bright coloured.

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Aril ar-il n.

arillus ar-il’us n.

(L. armilla, armillatus: an ornamental bracelet)
An appendage to a seed, often pulpy and bright coloured.

Alectryon excelsa

titoki

Sapindaceae

September

The ocellate pattern makes a striking display. The black, lustrous seeds are displayed in the pulpy aril. The genus name refers to the Greek: alectryon: a cock; in reference to the red arils’ resemblance to a rooster’s comb.

Axil: the upper angle between two organs or structures

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Axil ax’il n.

axillary ax’il-a’ri adj.

(L. axilla: the armpit)

Referring to the upper angle between two organs or structures.

To grow between leaf petiole and stem.

Syn. lateral buds

Pouteria costata

tawapou

Sapotaceae

May

Fruit are produced from lateral buds. See costa for photo of mature fruits.

Appressed: Pressed or lying flat against for the entire length, but not joined.

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Appressed a’prest adj.

(L. appressus: pressed against)
Pressed or lying flat against for the entire length, but not joined.

Libocedrus plumosa

kawaka

Cupressaceae

This tree grows to to 35m. tall and is found in both Islands but in disjunct populations. North Island from Te Paki to Kawhia in the west and to Gisborne in the east. In the South Island it is present around North-West Nelson and Golden Bay. The Apiculate-acute flattened leaves are pressed tightly against each other.