GLOSSARY 



Perigynous flower. One in which part of the receptacle forms a 



free tube around the ovary, to the top of which tube the other 



organs of the flower are attached. 



Persistent. Remaining longer than is usual for such organs. 

 Petal. A leaf of the corolla or colored part of the flower when there 



is a green calyx. 

 Petal-like. Similar to a petal. 

 Petiole. The stalk or stem of the leaf. 



Pinnae. A primary division of a pinnately compound leaf. 

 Pinnately compound. A leaf with the leaflets borne along a central 



stalk or petiole; a 2-3-pinnately compound leaf is one which is 



2 or 3 times compounded. 

 Pinnately lobed. Having several lobes of about the same size on 



each side of the midrib. 

 Pinnatifid. Pinnately lobed with the indentations extending nearly 



to the midrib. 

 Pistil. The central organ of the flower which produces the seed, 



consisting of ovary, style and stigma. 



Pistillate flower. One which bears pistils but no stamens. 

 Pitcher-shaped. More or less like a pitcher, usually narrowed at 



the opening. 



Plume-like. Similar to a plume or large feather. 

 Plumose. Having fine hairs on each side of a central stalk, similar 



to a feather. 



Pod. Any dry fruit which splits open in a regular manner. 

 Pollen. The powder, usually yellow, produced in the anther. 

 Pollinium. A mass of pollen grains which cohere. 

 Pome. A fleshy fruit like the apple. 

 Prickle. A small sharp stiff outgrowth from the outer part of 



an organ. 



Prickly. More or less covered with prickles. 

 Prickly pointed. Pointed or ending in a prickle. 

 Procumbent. Lying flat on the ground. 



Prominent. Standing out more than usual, or beyond adjoining parts. 

 Prostrate. Lying flat on the ground. 

 Pubescent. With soft hairs. 

 Pungent. Sharp or bitter to the taste or smell. 



Raceme. An inflorescence with each flower stalked and all arranged 



around one central axis or stem. 



Racemose. Arranged in racemes, or similar to a raceme. 

 Rachilla. The axis of a spikelet in grasses. 

 Rachis. The axis of an inflorescence or of a pinnately compound 



leaf. 

 Raphe. The stalk of the seed or ovule which adheres to it and forms 



a ridge. 



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