Australian Grasses. 



55 



A Glossary of the Technical Terms used in the 

 Description of Australian Grasses. 



Abnormal ... Differing from the usual growth or structure. 

 Abortive ... Imperfectly developed. 



Acicular ... Slender, but stiff and pointed at the end like a needle. 

 Acuminate ... Gradually narrowing, and then more or less prolonged 



into a point. 

 Acute ... ... Sharp pointed. 



Adnate ... Not easily separated. 



Affinity . . . Plants, or their organs, that bear some striking resemblance 



to each other. 



Alternate ... Placed on the opposite side of a stem on a different level. 

 Amplexicaul ... Stem-clasping. 

 Annual ... Living but one year. 



Anther . . . The terminal hollow of a stamen, the case which contains 



the pollen of a plant. 

 Apex ... ... The opposite extremity of any organ to that by which it is 



attached. 



Apiculate ... With a little point. 

 Aristate ... Having a fine point, like a hair. 



Articulate ... Having joints places where spontaneous or easy separa- 

 tion takes place. 

 Awn ... ... Bristle. 



Axil The angle formed between a stem and any organ that 



grows from it. 



Axis The stalk 011 which the flowers are disposed. 



Barbate ... Bearded. 



Bifid ... ... Split half-way down into two parts. 



Blade ... ... The expanded part of a leaf. 



Bracteate ... Having Bracts. 



Bracts ... ... The leaves immediately below a flower if they are at all 



altered from their usual form. 

 Bristles ... Sharp stiff hairs. 



Crespitose ... Growing in tufts or patches, as the common daisy. 

 Callous . . . Hardened and usually thickened. 



Capillary ... Having the form of a thread or hair. 

 Capitate ... Growing in heads, or terminal close clusters. 

 Caryopsis ... Seed or grain of grasses. 

 Ciliate ... ... Bordered with thick hairs, or fine hair like teeth. 



Compressed ... flattened lengthwise. 

 Contorted ... Twisted. 

 Convolute Rolled inwards, 



