GLOSSARY 109 



Oblanceolate. Inversely lanceolate, the broadest part being above the middle. 



Oblate. Flattened ; applied to leaves much wider than long. 



Obovate. Inversely egg-shaped in outline, the broadest part being above the 



middle (see ovate}. 



Obovoid. Having the shape of an egg, the thickest end uppermost. 

 Ovary. The part of the flower which ultimately develops the seeds ; the lowest 



part of the pistil. 

 Ovate. Having the outline of an egg, the widest part being below the middle. 



A common shape of leaf and petal. 



Ovoid. Having the shape of an egg. Common in fruits. 

 Palmate. Applied to leaves with radiating lobes, as in Fatsiajaponica. 

 Panicle. A branched inflorescence, as distinct from raceme or spike. 



Pappus. The limb of the calyx in the Natural Order of Composite, much 

 divided or downy, to assist in the dispersion of the seed by wind. 



Pedicel. A term used to distinguish the stalk of individual flowers in a 

 compound inflorescence (see peduncle). 



Peduncle. The mainstalk of a cluster of flowers, or the stalk of a solitary 



flower. 

 Peltate. Applied to leaves which are attached to their stalks by the lower 



surface, not at the margin. 

 Perfect. Applied to flowers which have effective male and female organs, as 



opposed to unisexual or sterile. 

 Perianth. The envelope of the flower. Usually applied in practice to flowers 



which have only calyx or corolla, or in which the two are not distinguishable. 



Petal. A division of the corolla ; strictly, only applicable when it is quite 



separate and distinct. 

 Pinnce. The leaflets of a pinnate leaf, or the primary divisions of a doubly 



pinnate one. 

 Pinnate. Applied to leaves composed of leaflets arranged along each side of 



a common stalk ; feather-like. 

 Pistil. The female part of the flower. 

 Pollen. A usually yellow powder borne in the anthers ; the male or 



fecundating material. 

 Polygamous. Applied to flowers sometimes perfect, sometimes unisexual. 



Pome. A fruit made up of several carpels enclosed in a thick layer of flesh, 



e.g. apple. 

 Raceme. An inflorescence in which the flowers are about equally stalked 



and borne on an elongated common stalk. 



Rachis. The common stalk of a compound leaf or raceme, spike, etc. 

 Rhomboidal. Diamond- or lozenge-shaped. 

 Scale. Applied to scarious bodies borne on various parts of plants ; such as 



the enclosing parts of flower-buds, leaf-buds, acorn-cups, etc, 

 Sepals. Divisions of the calyx. 



