xxviii 
BOTANICAL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS. 
also to roots, when many tubes proceed from the same 
centre, shooting forth in an elongated form. 
Fascicle, {Fasciculus) applied to flowers on little stalks, when 
many , spring from one point, and are collected into a close 
and level bundle at the top ; as the sweet-william. 
Feathery, (Plumosus) applied to plaats furnished with lateral 
hairs. 
Fertile Flower. Flowers are 'so called which, have a pistil, or 
pistils, and produce seed. 
Fibrous Root, (Radix fibrosa) consisting of numerous fibres, 
either simple or branched ; these are the most simple of 
all roots, and convey nourishment directly to the stem, or 
leaves ; many annual herbs and grasses have this kind of 
root. 
Fiddle-shaped, (Panduriforme) applied to leaves of an oblong 
form, and contracted at the sides. 
Filament, {Filamentum) part of the anther, the long thread-like 
part that supports the anther ; the filament is not essen- 
tial, being sometimes wanting ; the form is various, being 
sometimes short and thick, or long and slender, or forked, 
one point only supporting the anther ; generally smooth, 
sometimes hairy ; the number varies from one to many. 
Filiform, or Thread-like, {Filiformis) applied to peduncles 
when very fine, resembling threads ; applied also to the tube 
of monopetalous flowers when of a thread-like form ; and 
to aments also. 
Fingered-leaf, vide Digitate. 
FissuM, vide Cloven. 
Fleshy, {Carnosum) leaves are so called when of a thick pulpy 
substance, as the aloe, &c. 
Flexuose, or Zigzag, {Flexuosus) applied to stems taking a zig- 
zag direction, i. e. forming angles from right to left, and 
from left to right. 
Flint, {Silica) this substance is supposed to be a vegetable 
secretion, at least, it has been found in a state of great 
purity in many vegetables.* 
Floral Leaf, vide Bractea. 
Floret, {Flosculus) a floret is a very small monopetalous flower. 
* Sir H. Davy has discovered pure flint in the cuticle of mauy grasses ; it is also 
found in the hollow stems of bamboo, and in many other plants ; the ashes of wheat 
straw are found to contain it also. 
