190 
VOCABULARY. 
flower, generally referring to the pe- 
tals only. 
dntiscorbu'lics. Substances which cure 
eruptions. 
Apet'alous. (From a, without, and pet- 
alum, a petal.) Having no petals or 
corollas; such flowers are termed 
incomplete ; such as are destitute of 
either stamens or pistils are called 
imperfect 
Apefalce. A class formed by some of 
the ancient botanists, including plants 
desiitute of corollas. 
A'pez. The top or summit. 
Ap'ujl'lons. (From a, without, and phyl- 
lon, a leaf) Destitute of leaves. 
Aphyl'lce is the name given by an an- 
cient botanist to a class of plants 
without leaves, comprising garlic, 
rush, mushrooms, &c. 
Apothe'cia. The fructifications of the 
lichens. 
Appen'daged. Having bracts, thorns, 
prickles, &c. 
Appres'sed. Closely pressed; as leaves 
against the stem, &c. 
Approx'imate. Growing near each other. 
Ap'lerous. Without wings. 
Aquat'ic. (From aqua, wa:er.) Grow- 
ing in, or near water. Aquatica was 
an ancient name for a class including 
all plants which grow in water. 
Ar'hof. A tree; a perennial plant, 
which rises to a great height. Most 
trees spring from seeds having two 
cotyledons; they are therefore called 
dicotyledonous plants. The ancient 
botanists divided plants into trees and 
herbs ; but this distinction is too vague 
to form the basis of classification. 
Arbo'reus. Like a tree. 
Arbusti'vus. (From arbustum, a shrub.) 
An ancient class of plants contain- 
ing shrubs; as the myrtle, mock-or- 
ange {philadelphus^) &c. 
Arck'ed. Curving above, vaulted. 
Ar'cuate. (From arcus, a bow.) Bent 
like a bow. 
Arena'rius. Growing in sand. 
Argen'leus. Siiver-coloured. 
Ar'id. Dry. 
A'ril, (ariilus.) The external coat or 
covering of seeds which, drying, falls 
off spontaneously, 
Aris'tate. (From areo, to be dried.) 
Awned, ending a bristle. 
Aro'ides. So called from arum. 
Arms, {arma.) Offensive weapons. 
Plants are said to be armed, when 
they are furnished with prickles, 
thorns, &c. 
Aromat'ic. Sweet-scented. 
Aromat icce. The name of a class of 
Dioscorides Clusius, Bauhin, and 
' 34* 
some other botanists, who arranged 
plants according to their virtues and 
sensible qualities. 
Ar'row-form. Shaped like an arrow- 
head, the hind lobes acute. 
Artie' ulaled. Jointed ; as in the culm 
or stem of the grasses. 
Aru7idina'ce(nis. (From Arundo, a 
reed.) Resembling reeds. 
Arven'sis. Growing in cultivated fields. 
Ascend' ing. Rising from the ground 
obliquely. 
Ascid'isate. Pitcher-form. From the 
Greek askidion, a bottle or pitcher. 
Asperijo'lius. Rough-leaved. 
Astrin' gents. Substances which con- 
dense the fibres. 
Atten'uated. Gradually diminished or 
tapering. 
AuricJulate. Having appendages re- 
sembling ears. 
Awl-form. Sharp at the point, and 
curved to one side. 
Awn. A short stiff" bristle 
Ax'il. The angle between a leaf and 
stem on the upper side. 
Ax'illary. Growing out of the axils; 
leaves are said to be axillarv when 
they proceed from the angle ;ormed 
by the stem and branch. 
Ax'is. The elongated part of a petiole, 
upon which are attached many flow- 
ers. A centre. A line, real or ima- 
ginary, through any body. 
B 
Ba'ca. A berry. It is a pulpy pericarp, 
enclosing seeds without capsules. A 
berry is said to be proper, when it is 
formed of the pericarp or seed vessel ; 
improper or singular, when it is form- 
ed of any other parts. In the mul- 
berry and rose, a large, fleshy and 
succulent calyx becomes a berry. In 
the strawberry, a berry is formed of 
the common receptacle; in the rp,sp- 
berry, of a seed. 
Baccif'erus. Bearing berries. 
Ban'ner. The upper petal m a papilid- 
naceous flower. 
Barb. A straight process, armed with 
teeth pointing backwards. 
Barba'tus. Bearded. 
Bark. The covering of vegetables, 
consisting of several parts; as cuti- 
cle, cellular integument, &c. The 
bark consists of as many layers as 
the tree on which it grows has years : 
a new layer being formed from Jiiz 
cambium, or from the alburnum, er- 
ery year. The newest layer "if bulk 
is called liber. 
Barren. Producing no fruit: contain- 
ing stamens only. 
