GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS 



Chaff. — Bracts or scales which become dry and thia. Used especially of 



a scale accompanying the small flowers of the Compo iite family. 



Claw. — The long, narrow base of a petal, as in pinks. 



Cleistogamous — Closed pollination. Applied to inconspicuous 

 which are self-pollinated before the bud opens, as in st< : 

 lets. Such plants bear other more showy blossoms, which 

 often fruitful. 



Corolla. — The flower-leaves standing next within and above the calyx. 



Corymb. — A cluster of flowers, flat or convex at top, blossoming first at 

 the circumference, last at the center. 



Crenate. — With roundish teeth. 



Cyme.— A cluster of flowers, flat or convex at top, the central ones blos- 

 soming first; those around the margin last. 



Cymose. — With the general inflorescence of the cyme. 



Dehiscent.— Splitting open of capsules into regular valves, for the discharge 

 of seeds. Dehiscent fruits contain more than one seed. 



Disk or disc— The central part of Composites, as distinguished from ray- 

 flowers. 



Drupe. — A stone-fruit, as the cherry and plum. 



Filament.— The stamen-stalk bearing the anther. It is not an essential 

 part of the flower. 



Floret. —Diminutive of flower. Applied to the small ilowers of Com- 

 posites. 



Glabrous. — Smooth, without hairs or bristles. 



Inflorescence.— Flowering; having reference to method, and, where there 

 are several flowers, their relation to one another on the stem. 



I nvolucel— When an umbel of flowers is compound, the bracts under- 

 neath the secondary umbels are called involucels. 



Involucre.— Leaves, sometimes petal-like, as in flowering dogwood, sur- 

 rounding a single flower or a group of small flowers. Generally 

 bract-like and green, as in the parsley family. 



A'e^.— Applied to the two united petals in the front part of such flowers 

 as those of the pea and bean. 



Leaflet.— When a leaf is cut down to the midrib it is a compound leaf ami 

 each division is a leaflet. Such a compound leaf is that of the 

 common locust. . 



Legume.— The fruit of the pea and bean family, usually opening along 

 both sutures or seams. . 



Lip.— The upper petal of orchids. Also applied to each division ■ 

 2-divided flowers, as mints or figworts. 



Z/yrate.— Lyre-shaped. Leaves cut, with a large central, terminal lODe, 

 and smaller ones along the side, as in some mustards. 



Midrib. — The central, large vein of a leaf. 



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