A SHORT GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS xix 



CORYMB, a raceme with the peduncles becoming gradually shorter as they 



approach the top, so that all the flowers are about on a level. 

 COTYLEDONS, the first pair of seed-leaves. 

 CRENATE, applied to leaves with obtuse, rounded teeth, such as those of Violet 



and Ground Ivy. 

 CRENULATE, minutely crenate. 

 CRYPTOGAMIC, plants reproduced by spores, like Ferns and Mosses, in which 



the stamens and pistils are wanting. 

 CUNEATE or CUNEIFORM, wedge-shaped ; i.e. broadest above the middle and 



tapering toward the base. 



CUSPIDATE, imperceptibly lengthened into a sharp point. 

 CUTICLE, the outer skin of an animal or plant. 

 CYME, an inflorescence in which the flowers are produced in successive, lateral 



axis; e.g. Myosotis, Lychnis. 

 CYLINDRICAL, more or less in the form of a cylinder. 



DECIDUOUS, applied to plants, and especially trees, whose leaves are shed each 



autumn. 



DECURRENT, applied to leaves which run down the stem. 

 DEHISCENT, applied to fruits which open at one or more points to allow the 



seed to escape. 



DENTATE, with short triangular teeth. 

 DENTICULATE, finely dentate. 

 DICHOTOMOUS, applied to a stem, branch, panicle, or cyme which is forked 



again and again. 



DICOTYLEDON, a plant having two seed-leaves ; cf. Monocotyledon. 

 DIFFUSE, widely spreading. 

 DIGITATE leaves are those whose lobes are disposed like the fingers of the hand. 



but from one centre, as in Lupine. 

 DICECIOUS plants are those having stamens and pistils in separate flowers on 



different plants. 

 Disc or DISK, the central part of a capitulum of Composites ; also the glandular 



space above the receptacle of some flowers. 

 DIVARICATE, spreading at an obtuse angle. 

 DRUPE, a fleshy, indehiscent fruit containing a stone in which the seed is 



enclosed ; e.g. a cherry. 



EBRACTEATE. without bracts. 



ECOLOGY, the study of plants in relation to their environment. 



ELLIPTICAL, in the form of an oval with both ends tapering alike. 



EMARGINATE, notched ; usually applied to petals. 



ENDEMIC, peculiar to a district or country. 



ENDOSPERM, the store ot food outside the embryo in certain seeds, and absorbed 



by it in germination. 



ENTIRE, applied to leaves which are not cut or toothed. 

 EPICALYX, the outer portion of a double calyx ; e.g. in Potentilla. 

 EPIGYNOUS, apparently seated upon the ovary. 

 EPIPETALOUS, applied to stamens borne upon petals. 

 EPIPHYTE, a plant which grows upon another, but not as a parasite. Lichens 



and many Orchids are epiphytes. 

 EQUALLING, when the ends of organs ris-e to the same height though their relative 



lengths may be different. 

 EVERGREEN, applied to plants with green foliage all the year, and to leaves which 



last more than one season. 

 EXALBUMINOUS seeds have no endosperm, and the embryo occupies the whole 



cavity. 



EXSERTED, projecting beyond that which surrounds its base. 

 EXSTIPULATE, having no stipules. 



FALCATE, sickle-shaped. 



FAMILY Natural Order ; a group of genera of greater or less affinity. 



