GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS 



ACHENE. A dry one-seeded indehiscent fruit with the pericarp fitting close- 

 ly around the seed. 



ACUMINATE. Gradually tapering to the apex. 



ACUTE. Sharp pointed. 



ADNATE. An organ adhering to a contiguous differing one. 



ADVENTIVE. Not indigenous, but apparently becoming naturalized. 



ALTERNATE. Applied to that form of leaf arrangement in which only one 

 leaf occurs at a node. 



AMENT. A spike of imperfect flowers subtended by scarious bracts, as in 

 willows. Used interchangeably with catkin. 



ANTHER. The part of the stamen which contains the pollen. 



APETALOUS. Without a corolla. 



APPRESSED. Lying close and flat against. 



ARBORESCENT. Tree-like in size and habit of growth. 



ARIL. A fleshy organ growing at the point of attachment of a seed to the 

 pericarp. 



ASCENDING. Growing obliquely upward, or upcurved. 



AWL-SHAPED. Narrow upward from the base to a slender or rigid point, 



AWN. A slender bristle-like organ. 



AXIL. The point on the stem immediately above the base of the leaf. 



Axis. The central line of any organ or support of a group of organs; a 

 stem. 



AXILLARY. Borne at, or pertaining to, an axil. 



BACCATE. Berry-like; pulpy. 



BEAKED. Ending in a prolonged tip. 



BERRY. A fruit whose pericarp is wholly pulpy. 



BIENNIAL. Of two years' duration. 



BlPlNNATE. Twice pinnate. 



BLADE. The flat expanded part of a leaf. 



BRACT. A leaf, usually small, subtending a flower or flower-cluster. 



BRACTEATE. Having bracts. 



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