GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS 



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

 a scale accompanying the small flowers of the Composite family. 



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



Cleistogamous. — Closed pollination. Applied to inconspicuous blossoms 

 which are self-pollinated before the bud opens, as in stemless vio- 

 lets. Such plants bear other more showy blossoms, which are 

 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 flowers 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. 



Involucel. — 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. 



Keel. — 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, and 



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 of 



2-divided flowers, as mints or figworts. 

 Lyrate. — Lyre-shaped. Leaves cut, with a large central, terminal lobe, 



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



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



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