GLOSSARY 327 



Obtuse. With a rounded or blunt end. 

 Ovary. The part of the pistil containing the ovules. 

 Ovule. The body which, when fertilized, is meant to become a 

 seed. 



Panicle. A loose, irregular cluster with branching flower stems. 



Parasitic. Gaining nourishment from a host plant. 



Pedicel. The stem of one of the component flowers or fruits of 



a cluster. 

 Peduncle. A stem of a single flower or of a flower cluster. 

 Perennial. Continuing year after year. 

 Perfect (flower). Having both stamens and pistils. 

 Perianth. The floral envelope consisting of calyx and corolla if 



both are present. 

 Petal. One unit of the corolla. 

 Petiole. The leaf stalk. 

 Pinnate. With the leaflets of a compound leaf on either side of 



the leaf stalk. 

 Placenta. The interior portion of the ovary on which the 



ovules are borne. 

 Pollen. The anther-borne grains which fertilize the ovules. 

 Polygamous. Plants bearing staminate, pistillate, and perfect 



flowers on the same plant. 

 Prickles. A slender, sharp growth from bark or rind. 

 Pubescent. Finely hairy. 



Raceme. Spike bearing stemmed flowers. 



Receptacle. The modified portion of an axis upon which the 

 flowers or portion of a flower is borne. 



Rhizome. An underground stem. 



Root. The underground part of the plant which obtains nour- 

 ishment there. 



Scape. A naked flower stem springing from the ground. 

 Seed. The ripened ovule. 

 Sepal. One unit of the calyx. 

 Serrate. With forward-pointing teeth. 



