GLOSSARY 
Abortive organ—An organ or part normal in the species but which 
has failed to reach full development in the individual. 
Acaulescent—Without an aerial leafy stem. 
Accumbent—Applied to cotyledons in the seed when lying against 
the hypocotyl. 
Achene—A one-seeded dry indehiscent fruit with a tightly fitting 
pericarp around the seed. 
Actinomorphic—Radially symmetrical; a flower or organ which can 
be cut into similar equal halves by two or more planes. 
Acuminate—Tapering gradually to the apex. 
Acute—Sharp pointed. 
Adelphous—Having stamens united into groups or brotherhoods. 
Adnate—United with a contiguous part; applied to an anther at¬ 
tached longitudinally to the end of the filament. 
Adventive—Apparently becoming naturalized. 
Aggregate—Clustered or massed together. 
Albumen—Reserve food materials stored in a seed. 
Alliaceous—Having the smell or taste of garlic. 
Alternate—With a single leaf or other organ at each node. 
Alveolate—Pitted like a honeycomb. 
Ament—A slender, usually flexible spike of flowers, as in the wil¬ 
lows. 
Amphibious—Growing at times in the water, at others on the land. 
Amphitropous—A partly inverted ovule. 
Analogous—Organs or parts similar in function but not in origin 
and structure. 
Anastomosing—Connecting so as to form a network. 
Anatropous—An inverted ovule with the micropyle near the hilum. 
Andrecium—The whole set of stamens in a flower. 
Angiospermous—Having the seeds borne within a pericarp. 
Annual—Yearly; living but one year. 
Anther—The spore-bearing part of a stamen containing the micro¬ 
sporangia ; the part which finally contains the pollen sacs. 
Anthesis—The period of flowering. 
Anthocarp—A utricular fruit surrounded by the persistent base of 
the perianth. 
Apetalous—Without petals. 
Apical—At the top. 
Apiculate—Ending in a short, pointed tip. 
Appressed—Lying close against another organ. 
Aquatic—Living in the water. 
Aril—A fleshy organ around the hilum or base of the ovule, 
Aristate—Tipped by an awn or bristle. 
