EXPLANATION OF BOTANICAL TERMS. 



Abortive and abortion, terms used where the symmetry of the flower is 



not complete, or imperfectly developed 

 Achenium, the fruit of the family of the Compositoe, which is one-seeded 



and does not open, but the pericarp of which is separable. 

 Acuminate, tapering at top, sharp-pointed. 

 Acute, pointed, not tapering. 



Aestivation, the arrangement of the petals in the un expanded bud. 

 AIcB, (wings), the lateral petals of papilionaceous flowers. 

 Alternate, placed one above another. 

 Amplexicaul, stem clasping. 

 Angular, having angles on the margin. 

 Anther, a membranaceous body, borne by the filament, containing a 



dust-like powder. 

 Apiculate, tipped with a little point. 

 Areolate, divided into distinct angular spaces. 

 Arillus, a fleshy coat surrounding the seed. 

 Attenuate, gradually diminishing in breadth. 

 Axillary, growing in the axil. 

 Baccate, berried, covered with a soft flesh. 

 Beaked, terminating gradually in a straight point. 

 Bilabiate, two-lipped. 



Bipinnate, if a compound leaf is divided twice in a pinnate manner. 

 Brachiate, when branches issue nearly at right angles. 

 Bract, a floral-leaf, a leaf from which flowers proceed. 

 Callous, hardened, indurated. 



Calyx, flower cup, the exterior covering of a flower. 

 Campanulaie, bell-shaped. 

 Capitate, formed into a head. 

 Capitulum, a head of flowers in Compositce; 

 Capsule, a membranaceous seed-vessel, opening by valves, 

 Carina (or keel), the two anterior boat-shaped petals of a papilionaceous 



flower. 

 Cartilaginous, hard and toughs. 

 Catkin, a deciduous unisexual spike, whose flowers are destitute of 



calyx and corolla, but supplied with bracts. 

 Channelled, concave, so as to resemble a gutter. 

 Ciliated, fringed with short, stifi", marginal hairs. 

 Clavate, club shaped, gradually thickening upwards. 

 Compound, composed of several parts. 

 Compressed, flattened. 



Cone, a dry fruit formed by scales covering naked seeds. 

 Connate, united at base. 

 Cordate, heart-shaped. 

 Coriaceous, leathery. 

 Corolla, the inner envelope of the flower, constituting what is commonly 



called i\iQ flower. 



