VOCABULARY, 



OR 



EXPLANATION OF BOTANICAL TERMS 



A. 



A, m composition, signifies privation, or destitute of; as, acaulis t re- 

 ferring to a plant without a caulis or stem. 



Abor'tive flower. Falling off without producing any fruit. 



stamens, not furnished with anthers. 



pistil. Defective in some essential part. 



seed, not becoming perfect through want of the fertilizing in- 

 fluence of the pollen. 



Abrupt' leaf. A pinnate leaf with an odd or terminal leafet. 



Acal'yces, (from a, signifying without, and calyx, a flower cup.) A 

 class in an ancient method of arrangement, consisting of plants 

 without a calyx. 



Acau'les, (from a, wanting, and caulis, a stem.) Including plants 

 without stems. 



Acero'se leaf. Linear and permanent, as in the pine. 



Acic'ular. Needle shaped. 



A'cinus. A small berry which, with many others, composes the fruit 

 of the mulberry and raspberry; the plural is acini. 



Acotyled'onous, (from a, without, and cotyledon, a seed lobe.) Plants 

 destitute of seed lobes, and which consequently put forth no seminal 

 or seed leaves, as mosses and ferns. 



Acu'leus, (from acus, a needle.) A prickle, or sharp point ; common to 

 the rose and raspberry. It differs from the thorn, in being a prolon- 

 gation of the outer bark of the plant, and unconnected with the wood. 

 Prickles have been compared to the nails and claws of animals. 



Acu'minate. Abruptly sharp pointed, having the point curved towards 

 one eds:e of the leaf, resembling an awl. 



icute. More gradually sharp pointed than acuminate. An obtuse 

 angle, or any otluer mathematical angle, is acute in botanical lan- 

 guage. 



Adel'phous, (from the Greek adelpkos, a brother or an equal.) Applied 

 to plants whose stamens are united by their filaments, whether in 

 one or two sets. 



Adnate. Growing together. 



Ad'versifo'lice, (from adversus, opposite, and folium, a leaf.) Plants 

 whose leaves stand opposite to each other, on the same stem or branch. 1 

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