GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS 



Acute. — Sharp-pointed. 



Alternate. — Not opposite or paired, 



but arranged singly at different 



heights on either side of the 



stems. 

 Annual. — Of one year's duration. 

 Anther. — That part of the stamen 



which contains the pollen. 

 Apetalous. — Without petals, like the 



Anemone. Secondary flowers. 

 Apex. — The outer tip of a leaf or 



petal. 

 Axil. — The angle formed by a leaf 



or branch with the stem. 



Basal. — Rosettes or tufts of leaves 

 clustered near the ground. 



Bearded. — Bearing tufts of hairs. 



Biennial. — Of two years' duration. 

 Usually flowering and fruiting 

 the second year only, and then 

 perishing. 



Bract. — A small, modified leaf at the 

 base of, or upon the flower stem. 



Bractlet. — A secondary bract, usu- 

 ally upon the stem of a flower. 



Bulb. — An underground leaf-bud 

 with fleshy scales. 



Bulbous. — Having the character of 

 a bulb. 



Calyx. — The outer lower set of 

 leaves at the base of the flower. 

 Usually green, and sometimes 

 brightly coloured. In some 

 instances acting in the place 

 of petals. 



Carpel. — A simple pistil or a sin- 

 gle part of a compound pistil. 



Chlorophyll. — The green colour- 

 ing matter of plants. 



Cleistogamous. — Small, inconspic- 

 uous flowers which never open 

 but fertilize themselves in the 

 bud, and usually grow near 

 the ground. 



Composite. — A floral head composed 

 of few or many florets gathered 

 in a dense head like the Daisy, 

 Clover, and Dandelion. 



Compound. — Composed of two or 

 more similar parts united into 

 a whole. Compound leaf, is one 

 divided into separate leaflets. 



Corm. — A solid, fleshy, bulb-like 

 enlargement at the base of the 

 stem. 



Corolla. — The flower leaves stand- 

 ing next within and above the 

 calyx. 



Cross-fertilization. — Is produced by 

 the pollen, which has been trans- 

 ferred from the anther of one 

 flower to the stigma of another, 

 by bees, moths, butterflies, 

 insects, and the wind. 



Deciduous. — Not evergreen. Fall- 

 ing away. 



Defexed. — Bent or turned sharply 

 or abruptly downward. 



Disc Flowers. — The tubular florets 

 composing the central "button" 

 of an Aster or similar com- 

 posite flower, and usually sur- 

 rounded with a circle of ray 

 flowers. 



Entire. — Without toothing or divi- 

 sion. 



Evergreen. — Bearing green leaves 

 throughout the year. 



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