238 
GLOSSARY 
abaxial: away from the axis from which it arises, 
e.g. leaf surface or floral organ; cf. adaxial. 
achene: a dry but not woody, indehiscent, 
single-seeded fruit. 
actinomorphic: radially symmetrical, especially of 
corolla. 
acuminate: tapering gradually or abruptly to a sharp 
point, the sides of the apex slightly concave 
(Fig. 80). 
acute: pointed; with the apex forming a sharp angle 
(Fig. 80). 
adaxial: nearest to the axis from which it arises, 
e.g. leaf surface or floral organ; cf. abaxial. 
adnate: fusion of dissimilar organs, e.g. of stamens 
to petals. 
adpressed: pressed closely against; appressed. 
aerenchyma: spongy, air filled tissue present in some 
plants, e.g. water plants such as Nymphaea and 
Sesbania. 
alternate: with one at each node at different parts of 
the stem (Fig. 80). 
amphicarpic: producing two kinds of fruits, 
e.g. aerial and underground as in some species 
of Glycine. 
amplexicaul: clasping the stem (Fig. 80). 
anastomosing: of venation, where the minor veins 
connect with one another (Fig. 1). 
androecium: stamens; pollen bearing organs of a 
flower. : 
androgynophore: a stalk bearing both the androecium 
and gynoecium of a flower above the point of 
perianth attachment. 
androgynous: when male and female flowers are 
found in the one inflorescence. 
androphore: a stalk or column bearing the 
androecium of a flower (Fig. 79). 
annual: completing life-cycle within one year. 
annular: ring-like or arranged in a ring. 
anther: organ in which pollen is produced (Fig. 79). 
anthocarp: a fruit plus the persistent base of its 
surrounding perianth. 
apical placentation: of ovules attached to the apex 
of an ovary (Fig. 79). 
apiculate: tipped with a small sharp flexible point. 
apocarpous: (of a pistil or gynoecium) consisting of 
one carpel as in Grevillea and the legumes, or of 
several carpels each free and distinct as in 
Annonaceae and Dilleniaceae. 
appendage: an outgrowth from any organ. 
appressed: pressed closely against; adpressed. 
areole: a space between the strands of a net or in any 
reticulated surface, hence areolate. 
aril: a fleshy appendage to a seed; sometimes applied 
only to those which enclose the seed or are 
persistent, hence arillate (Fig. 1). 
aristate: terminating with a long, fine point, often 
bristle-like (Fig. 80). 
Arnhem Land: land belonging to the Arnhem Land 
Aboriginal Land Trust, broadly that part of the 
Northern Territory north of 14 degrees S latitude 
and east of 133 degrees E longitude. 
article: a segment of a transversely jointed fruit (or 
stem), with separation occurring naturally at the 
joints, as in Entada and Desmodium (Figs. 11,21). 
articulate: with joints where parts may separate 
naturally. 
attenuate: tapering gradually (Fig. 80). 
auriculate: having small ear-like lobes, usually at 
the base of a leaf or petal as in Ammannia 
multiflora (Fig. 41). 
axil: the angle formed between a leaf and a branch, 
hence axillary. 
axile placentation: of ovules attached to the central 
axis of a plurilocular ovary (Fig. 79). 
basal placentation: of ovules attached to the base of 
the ovary (Fig. 79). 
basifixed: attached at or by the base. 
berry: a simple fruit having a pulpy or fleshy ovary 
wall, often many-seeded as in a tomato. 
bifid: two lobed, divided for about half the length. 
bipinnate: of compound leaves, where they are 
twice divided or with two orders of division 
(Figs. 1,80). 
bisexual: of flowers possessing functional pistils and 
stamens. 
bract: a modified leaf differing in size, shape or 
colour from the foliage leaves, usually smaller 
and associated with the inflorescence or flower, 
hence bracteate. 
bracteole: bracts associated with the pedicel of the 
flower (Fig. 15). 
caducous: falling off very early. 
callus: pl. calli; a thickened, raised area of + hardened 
tissue (Fig. 15). 
calyx: outer whorl of a flower with a double perianth 
(Fig. 1,79). 
campanulate: bell-shaped. 
canaliculate: longitudinally grooved or channelled. 
capitate: clustered, compact and rounded, e.g. of 
flowers in an inflorescence (Figs. 1,79). 
capsule: a dry fruit consisting of two or more fused 
carpels dehiscing either by valves or by pores as 
in Eucalyptus and Denhamia (Figs. 48,68). 
carpel: part of an ovary or fruit; an organ with the 
