GLOSSARY 183 



flour). The powdery substance contained in the stamens, 



essential to the fertilisation of flowers. 

 Pollination The act of placing pollen on the stigma of a flower, 



usually, but not necessarily, followed by the fertilisation of 



the flower. Insects can pollinate flowers, but they cannot 



fertilise them. 

 Propagate (Latin, propago, I propagate, I extend). To increase 



the numbers of a plant by means of cuttings, reproduction 



by seeds, or other methods. 

 Pungent (Latin, pungo, I sting). Used to describe the smell of 



such a substance as ammonia. 

 Pupa (Latin, pupa, a baby). The third stage in the life of many 



insects, usually inactive. The name was given from the 



resemblance of many pupae to a baby bound up in clothes as is 



the custom in Southern Europe. Pupa and chrysalis refer to 



the same condition. 

 Radicle (Latin, radix, a root ; hence radicle, a little root). The 



young root of the embryo. 

 Respiration (Latin, respiratio, the act of drawing breath). Used 



to denote the breathing process in both plants and animals. 

 Rudimentary (Latin, rudimentum, a first attempt, a beginning). 



Often used to describe parts of plants which have not 



reached their full development. 

 Scutellum (Latin, scutulum, a little shield). A descriptive name for 



the body on the embryo of a grass, by means of which it 



dissolves and absorbs the food-reserve stored up in the seed. 

 Sections (Latin, sectio, a cutting). Thin slices cut from a plant. 



They may either be cut across the stem cross-sections ; or cut 



lengthwise longitudinal sections. 

 Segments (Latin, segmentum, a division or a portion). The 



divisions, or rings, which make up the body of an insect. 

 Sepal (from Greek, skepas, covering or shelter). One of the leafy 



bodies, commonly green, which form the outermost portion of 



the flower, and usually make a protective wrapping to the 



more delicate inner portions. 

 Species (Latin, species, a kind or sort). All those animals or plants 



are said to be of the same species which do not vary more 



from one another than might be expected in the produce of 



the same parents. 

 Stamen (Latin, stamen, a thread). One of the essential parts of a 



flower, consisting usually of a stalk, bearing a pollen-bo* 



containing the pollen grains. 



