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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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A

Abaxial :	The side or surface facing away from the axis, usually the lower surface.
Parent Term:	Position
Difficulty Level:

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)
Difficulty Level:

Acaulescent :	Stemless, or with no visible stem
Parent Term:	Habit
Difficulty Level:

Accrescent calyx :	Enlarging after maturity, as the stem or the calyx of some plants after flowering.
Parent Term:	Fruit_details
Difficulty Level:

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
Difficulty Level:

Acicular :	Needlelike, round or grooved in cross section.
Parent Term:	Shapes__3d
Difficulty Level:

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:

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)
Difficulty Level:

Actinomorphic :	Of flowers, radially symmetrical; symmetrical about more than one plane passing through the axis of the flower, like a star.
Parent Term:	Symmetry
Difficulty Level:

Aculeate :	Prickly.
Parent Term:	Spines__prickles_etc
Difficulty Level:

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
Difficulty Level:

Acute :	Apex of leaf pointed, with more or less straight sides.
Parent Term:	Apex_of_leaf_blade
Difficulty Level:

Adaxial :	The side or surface facing towards the axis, normally the upper surface.
Parent Term:	Position
Difficulty Level:

Adventitious :	(Shoot or root) arising on stem, bole or boughs.
Parent Term:	Tree_bole
Difficulty Level:

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:

Alternate leaf :	-
Parent Term:	Leaf_arrangement
Difficulty Level:

Amplexicaul :	Of a leaf base, clasping the stem.
Parent Term:	Leaf_base
Difficulty Level:

Anastomosing :	Forming a network; usually applied to the veins in a leaf, or to fissures and ridges in bark.
Parent Term:	Venation
Difficulty Level:

Androecium :	-
Parent Term:	Flower_part
Synonyms:	Male parts
Child Terms:	Androphore Monadelphous Stamen Staminode
Difficulty Level:
Show examples »

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
Difficulty Level:

Androphore :	A stalk supporting a group of stamens.
Parent Term:	Androecium
Difficulty Level:

Angiosperm :	A seed-bearing plant with ovules, and hence seeds, developing within an ovary.
Parent Term:	Plant_groups
Plural:	Angiospermae
Synonyms:	Flowering plant
Difficulty Level:

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
Difficulty Level:

Anther :	Section of the male part of the flower (Stamen) which contains pollen.
Parent Term:	Stamen
Plural:	Anthers
Child Terms:	Pollen
Difficulty Level:

Apetalous :	Without petals.
Parent Term:	Corolla
Difficulty Level:

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:
Show examples »

Apical bud :	-
Parent Term:	Bud
Plural:	Apical buds
Show examples »

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
Difficulty Level:

Appendage :	-
Parent Term:	Attachment
Plural:	Appendages
Synonyms:	Appendix
Difficulty Level:

Appendage Appendix :	-
Parent Term:	Attachment

Appressed :	-
Parent Term:	Hairs

Arachnoid :	Cobwebby.
Parent Term:	Hairs
Difficulty Level:

Areola Areole :	-
Parent Term:	Venation

Areole :	-
Parent Term:	Venation
Plural:	Areolae
Synonyms:	Areola Areoles
Difficulty Level:

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:
Show examples »

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:

Arms :	-
Parent Term:	Plant_parts
Plural:	Arms
Synonyms:	Spines, thorns, prickles Armaments
Difficulty Level:

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)
Difficulty Level:

Ascending :	Of lateral nerves, arching upwards, towards the apex.
Parent Term:	Venation
Difficulty Level:

Asperous :	Scabrid, i.e. with a rough surface.
Parent Term:	Hairs
Synonyms:	Asperate
Difficulty Level:

Astringent :	Bitter or strange acidic taste which leaves mouth peculiarly dry, like skin of some unripe fruits.
Parent Term:	Taste
Difficulty Level:

Asymmetric :	Not symmetrical in any sense (neither actinomorphic nor zygomorphic).
Parent Term:	Leaf_blade_shape
Difficulty Level:

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
Difficulty Level:

Awn :	A bristle-like appendage, as on the apical part of some stipules.
Parent Term:	Fruit_details
Plural:	Awns
Difficulty Level:

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:

Axile :	On the central axis of the ovary.
Parent Term:	Placenta
Difficulty Level:

Axillary :	In an axil. e.g. axillary bud as distinct from apical bud.
Parent Term:	Position
Difficulty Level:

Axis :	Main stem or channel from which branches or other parts arise (e.g. twig, bough).
Parent Term:	General_terms
Plural:	Axes
Difficulty Level: