INTRODUCTION lxi 
below the middle. See Swertia, p. 327, 
Schizandra, p. 16, Impatiens, p. 74, 
and Ilex, p. 84. 
Lateral.— Employed to designate the 
two side petals or wings between the 
standard and keel in Leguminosae, 
and the side lobes of the lip of an 
Orchid and other similar relative 
positions of organs. 
Leaflet. — The ultimate articulated divi- 
sions of compound leaves, as in 
Thalictrum , p. 7, Gedrela, p. 82, 
Vitis, p. 94, Astragalus , p. 126, 
Cassia, p. 148, and Albizzia. p. 154. 
In many compoundly divided leaves 
the ultimate segments are not jointed 
to the rhachis, and do not eventually 
separate from it, and are properly 
designated lobes or segments. 
Legume. — The pod or seed-vessel of the 
Leguminosse, etc. 
Ligulate. — Strap-shaped, as the ray- 
flowers of the Compositae ; all the 
flowers are ligulate in the suborder 
to which the Dandelion and Lactuca, 
p. 285, belong. 
Linear — Narrow, with almost parallel 
edges, as the leaves of Grasses and 
Sedges. 
Lip. — The name given to one of the 
divisions of the perianth of Orchid 
flowers. This is usually different in 
shape and larger than the rest of the 
segments. See Bilabiate. 
Littoralis. — Inhabiting the sea-shore. 
Lobe . — A division of a leaf, leaflet or 
petal. 
L ucidus . — ■ Shining. 
Luteus . — Yellow. 
Macro, in composition long but some- 
times used instead of mega to indicate 
large. 
Membranous. — Employed to designate 
the texture of leaves, etc., when they 
are thin and limp, as opposed to 
coriaceous or leathery. 
Midrib. — The central rib -like thickening 
of a leaf. Where there are similar 
lateral thickenings proceeding from 
the base towards the apex of the leaf 
they are commonly termed nerves. 
Some authors call the primary veins, 
which proceed from the midrib 
towards the margin, nerves. Coriaria 
nepalensis, p. 107, has three-nerved 
leaves ; in Osbeckia stellata, p. 190, 
they are five-nerved. The net-like 
vascular system of a leaf is termed 
the venation. 
Mono, in composition signifies one, as 
monocotyledon. 
Monocarpic. — Flowering and fruiting 
only once, whether the same season 
that the plant springs from seed or 
the season after or many years after, 
as the Talipot Palm and many kinds ■ 
of Bamboo, which flower once and 
then die. 
Monocotyledon. — Having only one seed- 
leaf. 
Monoecious. — Sexes, stamens and pistil, 
in separate flowers, but on the same 
plant. 
Mucronate. — Terminating in a short, 
hard point. 
Natans. — Of swimming or floating habit. 
Natural Order. — See under the heading 
£ Classification,’ p. lv. 
Nerves.— See Midrib. 
Nivalis. — From snowy regions. 
Niveus. — Snowy-white. 
Nudus. — Naked, that is, a surface with- 
out scales, hairs or other appendages, 
as leaves and other organs. 
Numerous. — When organs exceed from 
twelve to twenty, as the stamens of 
Albizzia mollis, p. 154. 
Nut. — Variously applied both in popular 
and botanical writings. The Hazel 
nut and the Acorn, without the 
involucre or cup, are true nuts. See 
Quercus, p. 474. The seed-vessel or 
grain of the Cyperaceas is also desig- 
nated a nut. 
Nutans. - Drooping, nodding, as the 
flowers of the Snowdrop. 
Nutlet. — Applied to small one-seeded 
fruits and the divisions of the fruits 
of the Boraginaceae and Labiatae. See 
Cynoglossum furcatum, p. 332. 
Ob, a prefix denoting inversion, as 
oblanceolate , obovate, obcordate, etc. 
Obtuse. — Having a rounded or blunt 
tip. 
-aides. — An affix denoting resemblance. 
Orbicular. — Circular in outline. 
Oval. — The same as elliptical. 
Ovary. — That part of the pistil contain- 
ing the ovules or young seeds There 
may be several or many ovaries in the 
same flower, each having a single 
cavity or cell, as Larkspur and Butter- 
cup ; or there may be only one ovary 
and that one-celled, as in the 
Leguminosae and Composite, or 
more than one-celled, as in the 
Umbelliferas and Scrophulariacese. 
Ovate. — Egg-shaped, as the leaves of 
Lychnis, p. 49, and Grewia, p. 62. 
Ovule. — A young seed. 
Pale . — The name given to the inner 
flowering glume of Grasses differing 
from the others in being two-nerved 
or two-ribbed. 
Palmate. — Lobed in the form of a hand, 
as the leaves of Malva, p. 58, and 
Zehneria, p. 200. 
Palustris .- — Growing in marshes. 
