GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN DESCRIBING GRASSES 



Abrupt. Terminating suddenly. 



Acuminate-. Extended into a, tapering point. 



Acute. Sharp-pointed. 



Alternate. Situated regularly one above the other on opposite sides. 



Annual. Living but one season. 



Anther. The organ containing the pollen or flower-dust. 



Apex. The top or extreme end of any part. 



Appressed. Pressed together, not spreading. 



Aristate. Having an awn or beard. 



Articulated. Connected by a joint or joints. 



Ascending. Rising obliquely from the ground. 



Awl-shaped. Gradually narrowed to a fine point like an awl. 



Awn. A bristle-like organ proceeding from the glumes. 



Axis. The central stem of a panicle, spike, or spikelet on which the flowers are dis- 

 posed . 



Beard. A long slender hair or awn. 



Biennial. Living through two seasons. 



Bifid. Divided into two portions at the apex. 



Bisexual. Having both stamens and pistils. 



Blade. The expanded portion of a leaf. 



Boat-shaped. Folded together in the form of a boat; convex outwardly and concave 

 on the inside. 



Branch. A division of the stem or panicle. 



Branchlet. A secondary division of the branch. 



Bristl<8. Short, stiff hairs. 



Bulbous. Thickened like a bulb. 



Cvcspitose. Growing in bunches or tufts. \ 



Capillary. Hais-like, very slender. 



Carinate. Keeled, having a prominent ridge in the center. 



Cartilaginous. Firm and tough like cartilage. 



Cauline. Belonging to the culm or stem. 



Chaff. The dried glumes and palets of grasses. 



Chartaceous. The texture resembling paper or parchment in thickness. 



Ciliate. Having the margin or nerves fringed with hairs. 



Compressed. Flattened laterally. 



Contorted. Twisted. 



Convolute. Rolled together inward from the margins. 



Coriaceous. Of a leathery consistence. 



Cornaceous. Of a horn-like consistence. 



Culm. The stalk or stem of grasses. 



Cuspidate. Ending in a sharp, stiff point. 



Decumbent. Reclining on the ground, but rising at the top. 



Dichoiomous. Branching iu twos, forking by pairs. 



Diqitate. Dividing from a common point. 



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