In case you are uncertain of some of the gardening terms used on this, or other sites, we have compiled a list of those that are more commonly used.
If there are any others you feel we have missed, then please feel free to add them in the comments section and we will update the list with the definition.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Abortive. Failure to develop, faulty
Accessory buds. Buds more than one in an axil.
Achene. A small dry, indehiscent fruit with in a thin wall. eg sunflower, dandelion
Acicular. Slender and pointed; needle like. i.e. leaf
Acuminate. Tapering to a long point. IE leaf
Adnate. Joined to a part or organ of a different kind. IE stamens joined to petals
Adventitious buds. Buds appearing spontaniously in places that they might not be expected to. IE root buds from wounds, vegetaive buds on roots
Air layering. Layering an aerial shoot, by means of mechanical damage and wrapping a growing medium around the wound
Alternate. When leaves are not arranged opposite or in whorls on the stem
Annual. Life cycle of the plant from seed to death in one year (season)
Anther. Part of the stamen producing pollen. On top of a filament or sessile
Apetalous. Without petals
Apical. At the top (apex)
Asexual. Sexless pollination
Auricle. Part projecting from the base of some leaves or petals
Axil. The junction of leaf or flower with the stem
Axillary. In an axil.
Axis. Longitudal part of the plant around which plant parts are arranged. Primarily consists of stem and roots
Bark. Outer element of a stem or root when this is a corky layer in woody plants
Bark graft. Inserting and nailing a scion shoot with 4-5 buds between the bark and exposed wood, by making a vertical slit and sealing with wax
Base. Bottom of a plant or plant organ
Basal Plate. Flattened stem found in bulbs<br.
Berry. A pulpy fruit from a sinle pistil with one or more seeds. Ie strawberry
Bi- or Bis-. In latin words meaning twice or two
Biennial. Of two seasons’ duration from seed to maturity and death.
Bifoliolate. When a leaf is made up of two leaflets
Bilobed. When having two lobes
Bipinnate. Each leaflet also pinnate
Blade. Description when a leaf or petal is expanded. Ie blade of grass
Blanching. Preventing parts of a plant grening up. Ie clery or asparagus
Bole. Refers to the runk of a tree
Bottom-heat. Raising the temperature of the growing medium above that of the ambient air, by applying heat below the soil
Bract. Very small leaves that are found normally in or around flowers, flower stalks or inflorescence; sometimes large and brightly coloured. IE Poinsettia
Breaking. Term to describe growth from a bud. Ie breaking dormancy
Bristly. With stiff hairs or bristles.
Bud. Defines the rudimentary stage of growth of a shoot, leaf, root or flower. Representing active growth of, or dormant stage. Also as a scion or description of a cutting, in propagation. Ie two bud cutting
Budding. Inserting a scion bud into the rootstock through an inscision in its bark.
Bulb. Plant storage organ normally below ground, consisting of basal plate with roots emerging below and leaf scales and apical bud above
Bulbel. Juvenile bulb clone produced from the mother bulb<br.
Bulbiferous. Produces bulbs
Bulblet. Bulbels produced in a leaf axil or within the flowers
Bulbous. Like a bulb
Bush. Low shrub without a main trunk
Callus. Un-organized tissue growth, associated with cutting propagation (precursor to root initiation) or plant injury
Calyx. Outer covering of the flower parts, made up of sepals
Cambium. Plant tissue lying between the xylem and phloem. Produces new xylem and phloem and is necessary for all secondary growth in plants. Observed as the annual rings in woody plants
Capillary. Like hair strands
Carpel. leaf unit of a simple or compound pistil
Catkin. Unisex spike flowers, without petals, having scaly and usually decidious bracts
Caulicle. Small stalk or stem
Cellular. Made up of cells
Chip budding. Placement of chip cut from the budwood, with a bud, is placed into a clean cut made in the rootstock stem
Cirrhiferous. Tendril bearing
Cladophyllum. Branch functioning as foliage. IE asparagus.
Cleistogamous. Flowers self pollination prior to opening. IE Viola odorata Violets
Close fertilization. self-fertilization
Clove. Individual part of a composite bulb. IE garlic
Coalescence. The union of similar parts or organs, or of those in the same series as stamens with stamens and petals with petals.
Composite. Plants typically having flowers composed of ray flowers, disc flowers or both; any plant of the family Asteraceae
Compound. Multiple similar parts in one plant organ. IE compound leaf, made up of multiple leaflets
Compound (serpentine) layering. Several layers resulting from a single stem
Cone. A collection of flowers or fruits either beneath scales or with the scales. When detached, forms a fruit like body, often woody
Coniferous. Plant producing cones
Cordate. Heart-shaped, with leaf stalk attached to the cleft
Cork/corky. Non-living part of the bark. Commercial cork comes from the bark of Quercus ilex
Corm. Food storage organ, often below ground, which is ‘bulb’ like. IE crocus, glagladiolus
Cormel. Juvenile corm produced from a mother corm
Cormlet. Juvenile corm produced in the leaf axils or flower
Corolla. Inner whorl of the perianth. Petals of a flower considered to be a separate unit or group
Corona. (Crown) Any outgrowth or appendage between, or on, the corolla and stamens. IE trumpet shaped cup on a daffodil
Corymb. Short and broad, often flat, indeterminate flower cluster
Cotyledon. Sometimes called seed leaf. primary leaf/leaves of the embryo. Either emerges and becomes green or remains in the seed
Cleft. Splitting of a cut stem down its central axis by 5-7.5cm
Cleft graft. Inserting tapered two scion shoots with 4-5 buds into a cleft and sealing the wound with wax
Creeper. Plant that spreads though an ability to root throughout the length of a trailing shoot
Cross. The offspring of any two flowers that have been fertilized
Crossing. Carrying out cross pollination
Cross fertilization. Fertilization by pollen from another flower
Cross pollination. Transfer of pollen from pistil of one flower to another
Crop. Cultivated plants when described as a group; to harvest a crop; to plant, grow or yield a crop; total yield of a crop in reference to a season or place
Crown. All of the plant parts above the ground including stem; of woody plants, is the branches, leaves and reproductive organs growing from the main stem or trunk; also see corona
Cuneate. Triangular, leaf stem attached to a point
Cupule. Cup that an acorn sits in
Cuticle. Membrane lying over the epidermis; the external rind or skin of a plant or part
Cutting. Vegetative part of a plant used in (asexual) propagation
Deciduous. Falling off at maturity. Commonly used to describe plants that shed their leaves during winter
Decumbent. Lying or growing on the ground but with erect or rising tips
Defoliation. The loss or falling of leaves
Determinate. Does not grow indefinitely. Growth of the central stem or axis stops upon the development of inflorescence
Dehiscent. Spontaneous opening at maturity to release its contents, such as fruit, anther or sporangium
Deltate. Triangular shaped, leaf stem attached to a side, rather than point
Di-. Dis,-. Two or occurring twice
Dicots. Flowering plants with two cotyledons, net veined leaves and stem that grows by deposit on the outside
Dicotyledon. With two cotyledons
Diffuse. Branching or spreading growth. IE creepers
Digitate. Divided into finger-like lobes
Disc flower. Flower head composed of many florets. IE Thistle or florets at the centre of a daisy
Division. Form of propagation involving separation or splitting of a plant into several root bearing parts
Dorsal. Back or outer surface of a plant organ
Double. Description of flowers which have more than the usual number of petals
Downy. Covered with very short and weak soft plant hairs
Drupe. A fruit where the outer layer is normally a thin skin, the middle layer is fleshy and the inner layer (the pit) is hard and stony. The pit is usually one seed. IE stone fruit
Drupelet. Fruit made up of many drupes. IE raspberry
Effuse. Loosely spreading; very diffuse
Elliptic. Oval, with or without a point. IE leaf
Elongate. Lengthen; stretch out
Embryo. Developing young plant in the seed
Endocarp. The inner layer or wall of a (fruit) pericarp. IE the stone of a peach surrounding the seed
Endosperm. Nutritive storage tissue in the seeds of gymnopserms (seed plants)
Epi. Prefix meaning upon, beside, near to, over, anterior, outer
Epicarp. The outer layer of the pericarp
Epicotyl. That part of the embryonic plant above the cotyledons
Epidermis. Outer layer of cells that forms the boundary between the plant and the external world. Can be covered in woody plants by the periderm
Epigeous. Type of germination where the cotyledons emerge above the soil surface
Epiphyte. Plant growing on another non parasitically or by means of some other raised support. Moisture and nutrients are obtained from the air, rain and accumulated debris. IE orchids or Air plants
Evergreen. Maintains leaf canopy throughout the year. Opposite of deciduous
Exocarp. The outer layer of the pericarp. IE skin of a peach
Eye. Area at the centre of the flower in a distinct colour from the main; a bud on a tuber. IE on a potato
F1 hybrid. First filial generation of seeds from a cross between two distinctly different parents. Progeny is new and uniform, often with hybrid vigour
Falcate. Sickle-shaped. IE leaf
Fasciated. Abnormal widening and/or flattening of the stem
Feminine. Pistillate (in higher plants)
Fertile. When reproductive parts, seed, spores, seeds or fruit, are functional; able to produce or bear a crop; soil rich in nutrients required for growth; highly and continuously productive
Fertilization. Union of male, pollen, and female, ovule, gametes in plants
Fetid. Having a disagreeable odour
Fibrous. Having, consisting of, or resembling fibres
Fibro-vascular. Made up of both fibres and ducts; combination of fibrous and vascular structure
Filament. Stalk of the anther
Filiform. Thread or filament-shaped. IE leaf
Flabellate. Semi-circular shaped or fan -like. IE leaf
Flaccid. Soft; lax and limp; wilted, not turgid
Flagging. Wilting; often used for fresh cuttings or transplanted seedlings
Flora. The plant population considered as a group, of a particular country, region or period of time; book describing this population
Florets. Individual flowers of composites and grasses; also when very small flowers that make up a very dense form of inflorescence.IE cauliflower
Floriferous. Flower bearing; bearing or capable of bearing many flowers
-foliate. In combination: leaved or having leaves. IE trifoliate: three-leaved
-foliolate. In combination: having leaflets. IE trifoliolate: of three leaflets
Follicle. Dry, single chambered dehiscent fruit that splits open only along one seam to release its seed
Forked. Branching or divided into nearly equal parts
Frond. Leaf of fern; compound leaf of a palm; leaflike thallus, as of seaweed or lichen
Fruit. The ripened pericarp or pericarps with the adnate parts; the seed bearing organ
Funicle. The stalk or stipe that attaches an ovule or seed to the wall of the ovary
Gamete. Either the male or female sex cell
Germination. The commencement of growth of a seed or spore typified by the emergence of a radicle or extension of the epicotyl or hypocotyl
Glabrous. Hairless or smooth
Glaucous. Covered with a greyish, bluish or whitish “bloom” or waxy coating that easily rubs off
Glume. One of the two basal bracts of a grass spikelet
Graft. Union or point of union of a shoot or bud with a growing plant by insertion or attachment; plant produced by union of scion and rootstock
Grafting. Method of attaching or inserting a scion in a plant in order to produce an union that will allow the scion to grow there
Habit. Description of the look, appearance or method of growth. IE upright, open, decumbent.
Habitat. Particular place, or environment, in which a plant normally grows
Hairs. Generalisation of small and slender outgrowths from the epidermis. IE root hairs
Hastate. Pointed with barbs, shaped like a spear, with pointed lobes at the base of the leaf
Haulm. Straw-like stems, of grasses, peas, beans or potatoes residual at crop harvest; also stems of palm leaves
Head. Inflorescence made up of many disc and or ray florets (capitulum) or dense collection of small flowers and florets (IE cauliflower). Sometimes refers to plant parts rising from stem or trunk in woody plants. IE head of standard rose.
Heel. The basal end of a cutting used in propagation; often retaining a small part of the parent plant attached to the young shoot being used
Heel in. Insert shoots, cuttings, young plants into soil before inserting or planting to keep them turgid (moist); firming soil around newly transplanted trees and shrubs with your heel
Heliotropism. Growth toward or away from light of the sun
Herb. Plant not producing persistent woody stem, which naturally dies back to the ground at the end of the growing season: aromatic culinary or medicinal plant
Herbaceous. Herb like; having characteristics of a herb as opposed to a woody plant
Hermaphrodite. Plant having both male and female reproductive organs
Higher plants. Vascular plants; any plants in which the phloem transports sugar and the xylem water and salts
Hilum. The scar on a seed marking attachment to the funicule
Hip. Fruit of the roses. Closed fruit with achenes inside
Hirsute. Hairy with rough or coarse hairs
Hoary. Covered with a dense white or grey hair
Homogenous. Only one type of flower on the plant; also having stamens and pistils that mature at the same time
Hybrid. A cross between parents that differ in one or more inheritable characteristics, often of different species. Progeny often sterile.
Hybrid vigour. Vigour enhanced through hybridisation
Hygroscopic. Capable of absorbing moisture from the surrounding environment
Hyphae. Thread-like filaments forming the mycelium of a fungus
Hypocotyl. That part of the axis of a plant embryo or seedling lying below the cotyledons and above the radicle
Immersed. Covered completely in liquid; submerged
Imperfect flower. Having either stamens or pistils, but not both
Indehiscent. Not opening at maturity. IE seed pod
Indeterminate. Continuing to grow at the apical meristem indefinitely and not terminating in an inflorescence
Indigenous. Native or naturally occurring to a region, country etc.; not introduced
Inferior. Situated below other parts; inferior ovary lies below the attachment of other flower parts. IE marrow
Inflorescence. Part of the plant that consists of the flower bearing stalks; arrangement of the flowers on a common stem (flower cluster)
Inter-. Prefix meaning between or among. IE interplant, plant between
Internode. The span of stem between two nodes (joints)
Intorted. Twist in and out, twine, wind
Introduced. Brought from another region/country or habitat (introduced from the wild), either intentionally or otherwise
Jointed. With nodes
Kernel. Grain or seed of grass enclosed in a husk; inner seed of a nut or fruit stone
Knot. The point on a tree from which a stem or branch grows; node
Labiate. Lipped; flowers with the corolla divided into two liplike parts; belonging to the mint family Labiatae
Lacerate. Jagged, deeply cut edges
Laciniate. Jagged edge or fringe into narrow pointed lobes
Lamina. Expanded area of a leaf or petal; blade of a leaf
Lanceolate. Lance shaped; much longer than broad; tapering from a wide base to the apex
Lateral. Situated on or at the side.
Layer. A rooted stem detached from the parent plant after layering
Layering. Vegetative propagation involving the inducement of roots along a parent plants stem while still attached
Leaf, complete. Of three parts: blade, petiole, stipules (usually 2).
Leaf-bud. Point where the leaf is attached to the stem; node
Leaflet. One part of a compound leaf; secondary leaf
Leaf stalk. The stem of a leaf; petiole
Legume. A pod that splits into two valves with seeds attached to one edge of the valves; member of the pea family, Fabaceae
Lemma. In grasses, the flowering glume; outer or lower of the two bracts that enclose the flower
Lenticular. Lentil shaped; shaped like a biconvex lens
Ligneous. Woody; having the texture or appearance of wood
Ligule. A strap like organ such as the corolla of a ray flower; membrane or projection between the sheath and blade of a grass leaf
Limb. The expanded tip of a plant organ such as a petal or corolla lobe; one of the main branches of a tree
Linear. Elongated and narrow with nearly parallel sides
Lineate. Marked with lines
Linguiform. Tongue shaped
Lip. One of the two parts in an unequally divided corolla or calyx; modified upper petal of an orchid flower
Lobe. Any part or segment of a plant organ, that is not entirely separated, but appears to have a division; with several points
Locule. Compartment or chamber of an ovary or anther.
Lorate. Strap shaped
Mericarp. One carpel of an umbelliferous fruit
Mesocarp. Middle layer or part of a pericarp; the part between the endocarp and exocarp. IE the flesh of a peach
Midrib. The principal vein running down the centre of a leaf blade
Mono-. Prefix meaning one, single, alone
Monocotyledon. With a single cotyledon
Morphology. The form and structure of an organism without consideration of function
Mound layering. Drawing soil up around the base of the plant and enabling young shoots to take root
Mule. Alternative word for a cross or hybrid
Multifid. Many cuts or clefts forming narrow lobes
Mycelium. Vegetative part of a fungus, composed of a mass of branching thread-like hyphae
Naked flower. With no petals; without calyx and corolla
Nectariferous. Nectar bearing
Nectary. A glandlike structure or organ that secretes nectar
Nerve. Secondary veins in a plant leaf
Netted. Reticulated veins or nerves of a leaf that may be raised above the surface
Neuter. A flower in which the stamens and pistil are absent or non-functional; neutral; sexless.
Node. The point on a stem where the leaf is joined; joint; knot; leaf-bud
Nodal. Situated near a node. IE nodal cutting, just below the node
Nucleus. The central kernel of a seed
Nut. An indehiscent, hard-shelled, one-loculated, one-seeded fruit (hazelnut); a seed within a fruit having a hard shell (almond)
Obconical. Shaped like a cone and attached at the pointed end
Obcordate. Heart-shaped, leaf stem attached to the tapering point
Oblanceolate. Lance shaped, broadest at apex, tapering back to base
Oblong. Elongated with roughly parallel sides
Obovate. Egg-shaped with narrow end at the stalk. IE leaf
Obovoid. Egg-shaped with narrow end attached to stem. IE fruit
Obsolete. Not evident or apparent; rudimentary
Obtuse. Blunt or rounded tip. IE leaf
Odd-pinnate. Pinnate leaf with a terminal leaflet
Offshoot. A plant developing from the base of a mother plants
Orbicular. Circular shape. IE leaf
Ovary. Ovule-bearing lower part of a pistil that ripens into the fruit
Ovate. Egg-shaped; broad and round at the base, tapering to the tip. IE leaf
Ovule. Structure in seed plants containing embryo sac, that develops into a seed after fertilization
Palmate. With leaflets or lobes spreading from the base of the leaf; palm- or hand-like
Panicle. A branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes
Parasitic. Plant that lives in or on another from which it obtains nourishment, while contributing nothing to the host
Paripinnate. Even pinnate lacking a terminal leaflet
Parthenogenetic. Seed developing without fertilization
Pedate. Palmate with cleft lobes
Pedicel. Stem of one flower that attaches to the main stem of the inflorescence
Peduncle. Stem of a single flower or a group of pedicels
Peltate. Leaf stem is under the leaf rather than at the margin
Perennial. A plant which lives for more than two growing seasons. All trees and shrubs are perennials. Herbaceous perennials die back to underground organs
Perfect flower. One that has both stamens and pistil
Perfoliate. The stem appears to pass through the leaf
Peri-. Prefix meaning around, about, enclosing or near
Perianth. Outer part of the flower consisting of the calyx or corolla or both
Pericarp. Develops from the wall of the ovary; fruit wall; in fleshy fruits, divided into exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp
Perigynous. Having sepals, petals and stamens around the edge of a cuplike receptacle containing the ovary. IE rose
Persistent. Remaining attached; not falling off
Petal. Any of the separate parts of the corolla of the flower
Petaloid. Resembling a petal in colour and shape
Petiole. Leaf-stalk
Petiolule. Stalk of a leaflet
Phyllodium. Leaf-like petiole and no leaf blade. IE some acacias
Pileus. The umbrella-like fruiting body at the top of a stalked fleshy fungus. IE mushroom; cap
Pinnate. With two rows of leaflets; feather-like
Pinnatifid. Leaves with pinnate lobes that are connected and not discrete leaflets
Pinnatipartite. leaves parted in a pinnate way, but connected and not separate leaflets
Pinnatisect. Leaf cut in a pinnate way, but not to the mid-rid
Pip. A rootstock of some plants, used for propagation. IE lily-of-the-valley; seed of a fruit. IE apple
Pistil. The female, ovule-bearing organ of a flower, including the stigma, style, and ovary
Pistillate. Having pistils and no stamens; female only flowers
Pitted. Having little depressions or cavities
Plumose. Resembling a plume or feather-like
Pod. A dehiscent several seeded pericarp (fruit); seedpod; to remove seeds from a pod
Pollen. Grains produced by the anther, containing the male gamete, resembling a fine powder
Pollination. The process of transferring pollen from the anther to the stigma
Poly-. Prefix meaning many, excessive, abnormal
Polygamous. Having separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
Pome. A fleshy fruit with several seed chambers and outer fleshy part. IE apple
Prickle. A non-woody spine-like body arising from the bark or epidermis
Procumbent. Trailing or lying flat on the ground without rooting
Proliferous. Freely producing offshoots or buds particularly in unusual places, such as shoots from flowers
Proterandrous. Anthers maturing before pistils
Proterogynous. Pistils maturing before anthers
Pseudo-. Prefix meaning false, close resemblance
Pseudobulb. The thick bulb-like swelling in stems above ground. IE some orchids
Pubescent. Covered with short, soft hairs; downy
Pulverulent. Covered with a fine powder or dust
Pulvinate. CSwelling at the base of petiole or leaflet
Punctate. Having tiny spotsor depressions
Pungent. Ending in stiff, sharp points or tips. IE leaf; unpleasant taste
Putamen. Hard, shell-like covering of a nut or stone fruit
Raceme. An inflorescence with stalked flowers arranged singularly along the main common stem
Racemose Being or resembling a raceme
Rachis. Main stem or axis of an inflorescence or compound leaf; petiole of a frond
Radicle. The downward part of a plant embryo that develops into a root
Ramification. Structure of branching parts; offshoot; the process of dividing into branches
Ray. Outer modified florets of some composites, with an extended or strap-like part to the corolla; also branch of an umbel
Receptacle. Enlarged or elongated end of the stem, on which some or all of the flower-parts are borne or group of florets in a head (daisy); also capsule-like (rose)
Recurved. Bent or curved downward or backward
Reflexed. Sharply (recurved) bent downward or backward
Reniform. Kidney-shaped. IE leaf
Repent. Creeping; rooting at the nodes
Retrorse. Bent or turned over back or downward
Rhizome. Horizontal, usually underground stem that can send out roots or shoots from its nodes; rootstock
Rhizos. Prefix meaning root
Rhomboid. Diamond shaped. IE leaf
Rib. Primary vein, or any prominent vein or nerve in a plant organ
Rootstock. Root or part of root used for propagation; plant grown specifically to provide the root part of a grafted plant; rhizome
Rosula. A rosette; rose-like cluster of leaves or bracts
Rosulate. In a rosula or rosette
Rudimentary. Incompletely or imperfectly developed; embryonic
Runcinate. Sharply lobed or cut leaves that have the segments directed backward
Runner. A slender trailing shoot taking root at the nodes; plant derived from a rooted trailing shoot. IE strawberry; stolon
Saddle graft. An inverted “V” of identical length, 2cm long, is notch cut into the scion wood to fit over the reverse on the rootstock before being bound in grafting tape and sealed with wax
Saggitate. Arrowhead-shaped. IE leaf
Samara. Indehiscent winged fruit. IE Acer
Sap. The watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying food and other substances
Scale. Specialised leaf or bract, mostly dry and as a protective covering
Scape. Leafless flower stem arising from the ground
Scion. Bud or shoot of mother stock used in grafting, budding or cuttings
Seed. The ripened ovule
Seedling. A young plant raised from seed
Self-fertilization. Fertilization taking place with pollen from the same flower; close-fertilization
Self-pollination. Transfer of pollen from stamen to pistil of same flower; close-pollination
Sepal. One of the separate leaves of a calyx
Separation. Propagation by detaching naturally occurring asexual bodies or organs. IE offshoots, stolons
Sessile. Stalkless and growing directly from the stem
Set. Mature or develop. IE set seed, after pollination
Sheath. Protective structure surrounding a plant organ. IE base of a grass leaf
Shoot. Germinate “first shoots”; any part of a vascular plant above ground, with stem and buds or leaves. Tip is called an apical meristem
Shrub. A woody perennial plant, smaller than a tree with several stems rather than a main trunk; a bush
Side veneer graft. Tapered scion shoot inserted into a wedge cut in a dormant rootstock of similar diameter. Secured with grafting tape and wax
Sinus. The space or recess between two lobes of a leaf or other expanded organ
.
Slip. A softwood cutting “slipped” or pulled off
Spadix. A fleshy spike of minute flowers, usually enclosed within a spathe. IE arums
Spathe. The bract or leaf surrounding or subtending a flower-cluster or a spadix
Spatulate. Leaf shaped like a spoon
Spawn. The dried mycelium of mushrooms used in propagation.
Splice graft. Joining scion wood and rootstock of identical diameter over a 2cm diagonal cut. Sealed with grafting tape and wax
Spine. A strong and sharp-pointed woody body normally from the wood of the stem
Sporangium. A spore-case; a sac or body bearing spores
Spore. A simple reproductive body, containing no embryo
Sporocarp. A receptacle containing sporangia or spores
Sporophyll. A spore-bearing leaf
Sprout. Newly grown bud or shoot; to begin growth of leaves, shoots etc; germination of seed
Spur. A tubular or sac-like extension of a calyx or corolla; short or stunted branch of a tree
Stalk. The stem of any organ, as the petiole, peduncle, pedicel, filament, stipe
Stamen. The pollen producing organ of a flower, normally with a filament and anther
Staminate. Having stamens and no pistils; male only flowers
Standard. Large upper petal of a pea flower or upright petals of an iris; shrub or small tree from grafting or training has a single stem with a crown at its apex
Stem. The main axis of a plant; leaf-bearing and flower- bearing as distinguished from the root-bearing axis
Sterile flower. Without pistils; staminate
Stigma. The receptive surface of a carpel where pollen germinates
Stipe. The stalk of a pistil; petiole of a fern-leaf.
Stipule. A growth at the base of a petiole; usually two
Stock. The plant on which the scion is grafted; rootstock
Stolon. A shoot that grows at or below the ground and form new plants at the nodes; runners
Stoloniferous. Stolon-bearing
Stone. The “pit” or putamen of a stone fruit
Stool. A clump of roots or rootstock that may be used in propagation; also a plant from which layers are taken
Stratification. Pre-treatment of seeds to simulate winter conditions required to ensure germination
Style. Elongated part of the pistil between the ovary and stigma
Sub-. Prefix below, under. less than complete, nearly
Subulate. Awl-shaped leaf with a tapering point
Succulent. Juicy; fleshy; plants adapted for drier environments
Sucker. A shoot arising from the roots or beneath the surface of the ground of the parent
Superior. Applied to an ovary situated above the other flower parts. IE Hypericum, true berries and drupes
Suture. Seam-like joint or grove marking a natural division or opening
T budding. Budding by means of inserting scion bud beneath the bark through a cut in the shape of a “T”
Tap-root. Main root of a plant following the plant axis straight down into the ground, normally stouter than lateral roots
Taxonomy. Classification of organisms based on similarities of structure, origin, etc
Tendril. A slender, coiling modified leaf or leaf part by which some twining plants attach themselves to objects for support of the plant stem
Ternate. Divided into threes. IE leaf
Testa. The outer protective layer of a seed, often thick and hard; seed coat
Thallus. A flat leaf-like organ; a plant body without true stems or roots or leaves or vascular system. IE algae, mosses
Throat. The opening of a tubular corolla or calyx where the tube joins the limb
Tomentose. Covered with short, dense matted hairs; wool-like
Tortuous. Twisted or winding
Torus. The receptacle of a flower
Tree. A woody perennial plant of one main stem (trunk) and usually a distinct crown; plant resembling a tree
Tri-. Prefix meaning three or thrice
Trifoliate. Three leaflets
Trifoliolate. Having three leaflets. IE clover
Tripinnate. Pinnatel compound where each leaflet is itself bipinnate
Triternate. Three times ternate; petiole split into three with each part bearing three leaflets
Truncate. Leaf appears to be squared /cut off at the end
Tuber. Swollen underground stem (potato) or root (dahlia) with buds from which new shoots can grow; an organ for reproduction and food storage
Tubercle. .A small rounded projection, swelling or lump. IE on roots of legumes
Tuberiferous. Producing or bearing tubers
Tuberous. Having or resembling a tuber
Tunicated. Having a tunic; having or consisting of concentric layers of tissue. IE bulb of an onion
Turgid. Swollen or full of liquid; the normal rigid state of plants or plant cells; not wilting or flaccid
Umbel. An inflorescence resembling an umbrella, in which the flowers rise from the same point on the main stem
Uni-. Prefix meaning one or singular
Unifoliate. With a single leaf
Unisexual. Only of one sex; staminate or pistillate
Vascular. Lignified tissue in higher plants for the transport of water, minerals and photosynthetic products through the plant; Vessel/duct
Vein. Fibro-vascular framework in a leaf or flower
Ventral. Front; anterior; inner. Opposite of back or dorsal.
Vernalization. Subjecting seeds or plants to lower temperatures in order to break low temperature seed dormancy or for the development of flowers
Watershoot. Juvenile adventitious shoot growing from branch or trunk. Often in proliferation after major pruning work
Whip and tongue graft. Similar to a splice graft, except that a whip on the rootstock and tongue on the scion are cut into the wood to enable the scion wood to be held in place
Whorl. Leaves or flowers arranged in a circle at a node
Wilt. Loss of turgidity; flaccid; said of plants under water stress or as a result of disease; drooping or shrivelling
Woolly. Soft and often matted plant hairs on surface of plant organs
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