This glossary is intended to define the botanical terms that may be used in the catalog. It is usually easier to use these words than to rely on a long string of common words to describe a particular condition. There may be a pop quiz on these.
Adpressed
Flattened against the stem, branch or leaf.
Apex
The uppermost point.
Appressed
The same as adpressed.
Basal
At or very near the base.
Bi-lobed
Having two lobes.
Bristles
Stiff hairs.
Bulbils
Small bulbs or plantlets usually above ground.
Bulbous
Bulblike.
C.F.
Compares favorably. Botanist code for “I’m not sure”!
Caudex
The combined thickened stem and root.
Caudiciform
Having a caudex.
Cephalium
A wooly outgrowth at the apex of the stem of some Cactaceae, on which the flowers are borne.
Cholla
A common name given to rounded stemmed Opuntias
Clones
Genetically identical.
Globose
Spherical or nearly so.
Dehiscence
The opening of an anther or fruit along a regular line(s) of cleavage.
Distichously
In two rows; in two vertical ranks.
Euphorb
A common name used for plants in the family EUPHORBIACEAE.
Exfoliating
Separating in flakes or plates, as often the outer bark.
Filiferous
Bearing threads, as sometimes the leaf margin.
Genus
A group of related species; below family.
Glaucous
A light bluish-grey color.
Habitat
The kind of situation in which a plant grows, as woods, meadows, desert, etc.
Inflorescence
The group of flowers named collectively; their arrangement on the stem.
Interspecific cross
A hybrid between two species of the same genus.
Keel
A central, dorsal ridge like the keel of a boat.
Lateral
At the side, not central or terminal.
Lobe
A usually more or less rounded projection of a deeply indented leaf.
Madusa head
Numerous branches radiating from a central stem.
Mesembs
A common name applied to plants in the genus Aizoaceae (formerly Mesembryanthemaceae).
Monotypic
A genus with only one species.
Nomenclature
Name designation, the standardized new Latin names used in Biology.
Ovoid
Egg shaped.
Palmate
Lobed or veined outwardly from the base, like fingers of a hand.
Pedicel
The stalk of a flower.
Serrate
Serrate Saw-edged, with sharp teeth.
Prickly pear
A common name given to the flat padded Opuntias.
Prostrate
Flat on the ground.
Rosette
A cluster of basal leaves, symmetrically arranged.
Semi-bi-lobed
Partly having two lobes.
Semi-cylindrical
Nearly circular in cross section.
Stapeliad
A common name used when speaking about plants of the family Asclepidaceae.
Succulent
Fleshy, thick and juicy.
Regular, capable of division into two like parts.
Regular, capable of division into two like parts.
Synonymy
Old names for the same plant.
Tomentose
Covered with densely matted hairs.
Tomentum
Fine, densely matted hair, like wool
Tubercles
Small knoblike projections.
Tuberous
Thickened, usually referring to roots.
Turgid
Not flat; swollen or distended.
Variegated
Having discrete markings of different colors.
Venation
The system of veins.