GLOSSARY 315 



Ob. a prefix signifying inversion. Note Obovate, Oblique, 



Oblong, Obtuse, Opposite, etc. 

 Oblique (obliquus = slanting). Unequal-sided. Deviating 



irregularly from a direct line. 

 Oblong (longus = long). A four-sided form longer than 



broad. 

 Obtuse (ob = against ; tundere = to beat). Blunt or 



rounded at the point. 

 Opposite (ob = against ; positum = placed). AppUed to 



leaves and branches placed in pairs on opposite side of 



stems, and in contradiction to the description Alternate 



(q. vide). 

 Ovate (ovum = an egg). Egg-shaped, broader at base. 



Obovate represents shape of an egg turned upside down, 



and therefore broadest at the apex. 

 Ovoid. Ditto. Egg-shaped. 

 Ovule. Vide Pistillate. An incipient seed. 

 Pectinate (pecten = a comb). Apphed to trees — e.g. Silver 



Firs — whose leaves are arranged like the teeth of a comb. 

 Pedicel and Peduncle (pediculus, petiolus, and pedunculus, 



all refer to a little foot). Terms used to describe the 



various kinds of foot-stalks. 

 Pedicel. The stalk of a separate flower in a compound 



cluster. 

 Peduncle. The main stalk which joins the cluster to the 



twig or branch, or the stalk of a solitar}^ flower or fruit 



{e.g. an acorn). 

 Peltate (pelta = shield) shield-shape. Apphed to leaves, 



cones, etc., attached to their stalks by the centre, not the 



margins, e.g. a mushroom, a Chamaecyparis cone, etc. 

 Persistent (persistere = to continue). Applied to the 



length of time leaves and cones of conifers remain on the 



tree. 

 Petiole. The stalk of a leaf. Vide Pedicel. 

 Phylloids (Gk. phyllon = leaf). A growth half petiole, half 



leaf, used in connection with growths on Japanese 



Umbrella Tree. Synonyms : Cladodes, Herbaceous 



Branchlets (q. vide), 

 PiNN^ (pinna = feather). 

 Pinnate. Shaped like a feather. Applied to leaves arranged 



