Explore Plants

Support NPIN - If you use and enjoy the Native Plant Information Network, you will love the Wildflower Center's 36-page quarterly magazine, Wildflower.

Subscribe online now

Mr. Smarty Plants would give Wildflower magazine two thumbs up...if he had two thumbs.

Glossary of Botanical Terms

Search native plant database:

Name:
Family:

See a list of all Plants

next page >>

Results 1 through 36 of 262

term	definition
AB	Alberta
Acaulescent	Without a distinct stem.
Achene	A dry, usually one-seeded, indehiscent fruit.
Acorn	A hard, one-seeded nut whose enclosed by a scaly cup.
Actinomorphic	Refers to flowers that can be divided into equal halves along any axis (radially symmetric).
Acuminate	Gradually tapering to a point.
Acute	Pointed apex with margins that form an angle between 45 and 90 degrees.
Aggregate	Fruit developed from multiple pistils in a single flower, eg raspberry.
AK(I)	Introduced to Alaska
AK(N)	Native to Alaska
AK(NI)	Native and Introduced to Alaska
Alternate	Placed singly at different heights on the stem; not opposite or whorled.
Androecium	Collective term for the stamens of one flower.
Anemophilous	Wind pollinated.
Annual	Growing from seed to maturity and dying in one year or season.
Anther	The pollen bearing part of the flower.
Apex	The very tip.
Apical	Situated at or near the tip.
Apiculate	Ending abruptly with a sharp, flexible tip.
Appressed	Pressed or lying flat against something.
Areole	A spot in the form of a pit or a raised area on the surface of a cactus through which spines or other structures grow.
Aril	An outer covering or appendage of some seeds.
Aristate	Ending in a stiff, bristle-like point.
Asymmetric	Lacking symmetry, e.g., the two halves of a leaf blade not alike.
Attenuate	A tapering leaf base with concave margins that form an angle less than 45 degrees.
Axil	The upper angle between two structures or organs, as where a leaf or branch joins the stem.
Axillary	Growing from an axil.
Bark	Tough outer covering of trunks or stems of trees, shrubs, and vines.
Basal leaves	The leaves that are concentrated near the base of the main stem.
BC	British Columbia
Beard	A tuft or line of hairs, as on certain petals.
Berry	A fleshy, indehiscent fruit with few to many seeds.
Biennial	A plant that takes two years to complete the flowering cycle. Typically it grows leaves the first year and flowers and leaves the second.
Bilateral symmetry	The flower must be divided in half lengthwise for the two sides to be identical.
Bipinnate	Twice-pinnate.
Bisexual	A flower with both stamens and pistils.

next page >>

Results 1 through 36 of 262