HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



337 



DEP 



fectly developed than is usual in plants 

 of the same family; thus, when the lower 

 scales of the head of a cyperaceous plant 

 produce no flowers, such scales are said 

 to be depauperated or starved. 



Dependent. Hanging down. 



Depressed. Pressed downward; having the 

 appearance of being flattened vertically, 

 as the tuber of the Turnip. 



Derma. In Greek compounds derma means 

 the bark or rind. 



Dennis. The skin of a plant. 



Descending. Tending gradually down- 

 ward ; as some branches and leaves. 

 Also, penetrating more or less vertically 

 into the earth; as with the root, the de- 

 scending axis of vegetation. 



Desmos. In Greek compounds desmos 

 means anything bound to another, or 

 brought into close contact with it. 



Development. That gradual extension of 

 parts by which any organ or plant pro- 

 ceeds from its nascent state to maturity. 



Dewy. Where a surface appears as if cov- 

 ered with dew, arising from small, irreg- 

 ular, and pellucid expansions of cellular 

 tissue. 



Di. In Greek compounds di means two, 

 as Digynia, two pistils. 



Diachyma. The green cellular matter of 

 leaves. 



Diadelphia. An artificial class in the Lin- 

 nsean system, characterized by the sta- 

 mens being united by their filaments into 

 two distinct bundles. 



Diadelphous. Consisting of two parcels or 

 fraternities of stamens. 



Diagnosis. The short character or descrip- 

 tion by which one plant is distinguished 

 from another. 



Dialypetalce. Plants with distinct petals, in 

 contra-distinction to GamopetaUv, which 

 have the petals united into a single co- 



DIC 



rolla. The term is a modern one, pro- 

 posed to be substituted for Polypetalce, 

 which is more generally used in the same 

 sense, although it signifies literally plants 

 with many petals. 



Dialypetalous. The same as polypetalbus, 

 which see. 



DialyphyUous. The same as polysepalous. 



Diandria. An artificial class in the Lin- 

 nsean system, containing plants whose 

 flowers have only two stamens. 



Diapeasiacece, (Diapensiads.) A small or- 

 der of corollifloral Dicotyledons, estab- 

 lished by Lindley in 1836, and by him 

 referred to his Gentianal Alliance, and re- 

 cently reconstructed by Dr. Asa Gray. 

 Perennial herbs, sometimes suffruticose, 

 with alternate leaves and pentamerqus 

 gamopetalous flowers. The plants inhab- 

 it the northern parts of Europe and 

 North America. 



Diaphanous. Transparent, or nearly so. 



Diaphysis. A preternatural extension of 

 the center of the flower, or of an inflores- 

 cence. 



Diatomacece. A very distinct natural order 

 of green-spored Algae, remarkable for the 

 enormous quantity of silex contained in 

 their frond, and for their yellow-brown 

 color. See Algw. 



Dibber. This is the pointed implement 

 used for setting out vegetable plants 

 that have long roots, such as Cabbage, 

 Celery, etc. , and also seedling trees and 

 flowering plants. It is best made in the 

 form of a pistol handle, about ten inches 

 long, one and a half inches in diameter, 

 and shod with three or four inches of iron 

 tapering to a sharp point. 



Dichlamijdeous. Having both calyx and co- 

 rolla. 



Dichogamous. When the florets of an in- 

 florescence are of two separate sexes. 



