indumentum: the entire covering of hairs or other 
trichomes. 
indusium: a cup-shaped or two-lipped dilatation with 
a narrow opening at the end of the style, enclosing 
the stigma as in Goodenia. 
inferior: of flowers with floral members arising above 
the ovary (Figs. 38,79). 
inflexed: bent inwards. 
inflorescence: a collective term for the aggregation 
of flowers. 
infructescence: a collective term for the aggregation 
of fruits. 
interjugary: between successive pairs of leaflets in 
a pinnate leaf (cf. internodal). 
involucre: a number of bracts surrounding a flower 
or group of flowers as in Phaleria (Fig. 42). 
jugate: of a pinnate leaf when the leaflets are in 
opposite pairs or jugae, hence jugary (Fig. 1). 
keel: of a flower of the Fabaceae, the lower petals 
which are +united along the lower margin; also 
a ridge along a fold such as in the glume of a 
grass spikelet (Fig. 15). 
Kimberley Region: in general terms, that part of 
Western Australia lying north of 19 degrees S 
latitude. 
laciniate: appearing cut into narrow pointed or 
ribbon-like segments. 
lamella: pl. lamellae; a thin plate of tissue; gill (Fig. 
15). 
lanceolate: shaped like the head of a lance, with 
length to breadth of approx. 4:1; broadest in the 
lower half with curved sides tapering to a point 
(Fig. 80). 
laterite: a thard iron-rich, rock-like soil layer formed 
by heavy leaching of soil under markedly 
seasonal tropical conditions. 
latex: the milky juice of certain plants, e.g. fig or 
pawpaw. 
leaf blade: lamina; the usually broad, flattened part 
of a leaf (Fig. 80). 
legume: a member of Caesalpiniaceae, Fabaceae or 
Mimosaceae; the fruit of most members of these 
families (i.e. a pod). 
lenticel: raised spongy areas found on the bark of 
some trees which allow gaseous exchange, hence 
lenticelled. 
lenticular: biconvex; lens-like. 
lepidote: covered with scales. 
liana: pl. lianes; a woody perennial vine. 
ligulate: strap-shaped. 
ligule: particularly of grasses; a membranous or ciliate 
structure on the adaxial leaf surface adjacent to 
241 
the sheath. 
limb: the broad expanded part of a petal, where the 
base is +abruptly narrowed (clawed) or connate 
(Fig. 15). 
linear: long and narrow with +parallel sides (Fig. 80). 
loculicidal: of a mature capsule splitting along its 
outer locule wall. 
loculus: pl. loculi; locule; a chamber or cavity such 
as those bearing ovules, or pollen (Figs. 15,79). 
lunate: crescent-shaped. 
Malesia: part of SE Asia, comprising Indonesia, 
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and 
Papua New Guinea. 
marginal placentation: of ovules attached to the 
margin of an ovary, e.g. as in legumes (Fig. 79). 
medifixed: attached near the middle (Fig. 79). 
membranous: thin and translucent. 
mericarp: a one seeded, usually indehiscent carpel 
separating from a schizocarp as in fruit of 
Myriophyllum (Fig. 39). 
minni ritchi: a type of bark which is red-brown and 
shed in short, narrow curling strips, found on 
some species of Acacia. 
monadelphous: having the staminal filaments united 
into a single set as in Canavalia, cf. diadelphous. 
moniliform: cylindrical but with regular, even 
constrictions like a string of beads as in pods of 
Sophora tomentosa (Fig. 29). 
monochasium: a cymose inflorescence in which the 
axis ends in a flower and further growth arises 
from a bud below the flower, cf. dichasium. When 
this growth pattern is repeated the inflorescence 
is termed a compound monochasium (Fig. 79). 
monoecious: with male and female reproductive 
structures in separate flowers on the same plant. 
monospecific: with one species, e.g. of a genus with 
one species. 
monotypic: of one type, e.g. a family with one genus. 
mucro: a sharp, abrupt terminal point, hence 
mucronate (Fig. 80). 
muricate: rough with minute, short, hard projections 
on the surface as in seeds of Phyllanthus 
minutiflorus (Fig. 75). 
navicular: boat-shaped, hence naviculate. 
nectary: a nectar producing organ. 
Neotropics: New World tropics; tropics of the 
Americas. 
node: place on stem where one or more leaves or 
other organs arise. 
nodose: having swollen or bulbous nodes. 
nut: a one-seeded, indehiscent fruit with a hard dry 
pericarp. 
nutlet: a small nut. 
