
GLOSSARY 

Peduncle ‘The supporting stem of a flower or seed 
Pelagic On or near the high seas 
Pellucid Clear, admitting light 
Perforate Pierced through 
Peristome A cap, or cover of a cup, in plants 
Persistent Continuing through life 
Pigment Coloring matter 
Pinnate Shaped like a feather 
Pinnatified Divided in a feathery manner 
Pistillate Having a pistil and no stamens 
Plastron Lower shell of turtle 
Plicate Folded; forming folds or wrinkles 
Plumbeous Lead-colored; dull bluish-grey 
Poissons French for fishes 
Prehensile Clasping 
Protuberance A small excrescence like a pimple 
Pubis Lower part of the pelvis 
Pulmonary Pertaining to the lungs 
Punctate Dotted with points 
Pupa An immature form ; transformation after the larval stage 
Pyloric ceca Glandular appendage or sac opening into the alimentary canal, in fishes 
Pylorus The orifice through which food passes out of the stomach 
Quadrangular Having four angles 
Quadrilateral Having four sides 
Ray  Cartilaginous rods in the fins, of fishes; arm of a star fish; the star fish 
Rhizomes A creeping branch or stem 
Rudimentary Undeveloped 
Rugose Rough with wrinkles 
Sagittate Lance or sword-shaped 
Sepal A leaf or division of the calyx 
Serrate Notched, like a saw 
Sessile Without a stem or peduncle 
Setiform  Bristle-like 
Sinistral Left-handed 
Soft rays Branched fin-rays 
Specific gravity A weight which belongs to an equal bulk of each body 
Spiked A fin in which the main rays extend considerably beyond the tissue or web. A 
single-rayed fin 
Spikes Alternated growths on .a common stem, in plants 
Spinous Stiff or composed of spines 
Stamen Male organ of flowers 
Stamenate Furnished with stamens 
Sternum The breast bone 
Striate Striped or streaked 
Sub Less than; not quite; under 
Subulate Awl-shaped 
Suture A grove or line in snail shells 
Synonym A different word having the same meaning 
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