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. 

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



wallows. 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. 

 Bipinnate. — Twice pinnate. 

 Blade. — The flat expanded part of a leaf. 



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

 Bracteate. — Having bracts, 



