GLOSSARY
A
abrupt

:

 the side faceing away from the axis of the plant syn. dorsal, opp. ventral
abjoint

:

 to separate at a jointabaxial: the side facing away from the
abrupt

:

 terminating suddenly as though cut off
acantha :

a spine, prickle, or thorn
acanthocephalous : having a hooked beak
accrescent : increase in size with age
accumbent : lying against and face to face; lying in contact; reclining
acerate, acerose : having the shape of a needle; needle-like
acicular : needle-shaped, having needle like projections
aculeate : prickly, thorny, armed with spines
acuminate : having a long, slender, sharp point with concave sides, margins straight to convex
acute : sharp-pointed, margins straight to convex
adaxial, adaxial surface : the sides towards the axis; the surface of a leaf that faces the stem during development, eg. the upper side of the leaf. syn. ventral
adelphous : stamens united by their filaments
adherent : a condition where two dissimilar organs touch each other but are not fused together
adnate, adnation : organically united or fused with another dissimilar part
adpressed (appressed) : lying flat for the whole length of the organ
adventitious : plant organs produced in an unusual or irregular position as in adventitious buds, roots or shoots
adventitious embryo, : an embryo found without fertilization, which develops directly from the outer tissue of the embryony parental sporophyte, usually from the integument of the nucellus
affinis : closely related to another
affinity : similarity between entities in regard to morphological traits
aggregate : clustered together to form a dense mass or head, usually applied to an inflorescence
albino : a plant having colourless chromatophores due to lack of chlorophyll
alluvial soil :

a type of azonal soil which is highly variable and is classified by texture from fine clay/silt soils through gravel and boulder deposits
alluvium : soil, usually rich in minerals, deposited by water, as in a flood plain
alternate : arrangement of leaves or plant part which are not opposite or whorled out are placed singly on the axis or stem at different heights
amplexicaul : clasping the stem, as the base of certain leaves
ancipital :

two-edged; flowered or compressed axis stems of certain grasses
anemophilous, : referring to flowers which are wind-pollinated
anemophily
aneuploid, aneuploidy : an organism whose somatic chromosome number is not an exact or even multiple of the basic haploid number
aniso :

a prefix meaning unequal
anisolateral : with unequal sides
anisomerous : with unequal number
antrorse : bent or directed upwards or forward. opp. retrorse
aperturate : with aperture, an opening
apex, apices : the tip, the terminal end
apical : at, near, or belonging to the apex or point of the tip
apiculate : a short, abrupt or acute point
apomixis : reproduction, including vegetative propagation, which does not involve sexual processes; the ability of plants to produce seeds without fertilization
appendage : an attached subsidiary or secondary part, as a projecting or hanging organ
applanate : flattened horizontally; without vertical curves or buds
appressed : closely and flatly pressed against the entire length of an organ or part
approximate : close to each other but not united
arborescent : of tree like habit; resembling a tree in growth or appearance
arboretum : a place where trees, shrubs, and other plants are grown for scientific and/or educational purposes
arcuate : moderately curved or arched, like a bow
arista : a bristle-like appendage as on the glumes of many grasses; a bristly awn
aristate : bearing a stiff bristle-like awn or seta; tapering to a narrow elongated apex
aristulate : bearing a small awn
articulate :

jointed
asymmetrical : lacking symmetry; irregular in shape or outline
attenuate : with a long, slender taper, more gradual than acuminate; applied to base or apices of parts; gradually tapering
atypical : not typical, departing from the type form
auricle : an ear-like lobe
auriculate : bearing auricles
auriculiform : usually obovate in outline with two small rounded basal lobe
awl-shaped : narrow and gradually tapering to a sharp point; sharp-pointed from a broader base
awn : a bristle like appendage or part of, as in the back or at the tip of glumes and lemmas of many grasses
axial : of or pertaining to an axis, especially main axis
axil : the angle between the stem axis and a leaf petiole, branch or other appendage
attached to it
axile : of, belonging to, or located in the axis; central in position
axillary : in an axil
axis, pl. axes : the main stem of a plant; the main or central line of development of any plant or organ
B
bacca : fruit with thick fleshy pericarp separated from seed coat
baccate : like a berry, pulpy or fleshy
bacciferous : producing berries
bacciform : shaped like a berry
bap : benzyl amino purine
barbate : bearded with long stiff hairs (trichomes), usually in a tuft, line or zone
barbed : bristles or awn that have short-terminal or lateral spine like hooks that are bent sharply backward
barbellate : with short, usually stiff hairs
barbellulate : finely barbed
basicaulous : near the base of the stem
basifixed :

a structure attached or fixed by its base to a support
beak : a firm, slender projection on certain fruits seeds and carpels
beaked :

ending in a beak
beard : a cluster of bristle-like hairs or awns
bearded : bearing 1ong or stiff hairs
berry : a fruit developed from an ovary containing one to several carpels in which the ovary wall and the inner structures of the ovary become enlarged and juicy, seeds within have their own hard seed coat
bhc : benzene hexachloride
bifid : forked; two-cleft; divided into two parts or lobes
bifurcate : divided into two forks or branches
bilobed : having two divisions, often rounded
bilocular : two-celled or with two locules
biotic : pertaining to life
bipartite : divided into two parts almost to the base
bisected : completely divided into two parts
biseriate : in two whorls or cycles; in two rows or series
biserrate : margin type with smaller sharply cut teeth on the margins of larger sharply cut teeth; doubly-serrate
blight : a plant disease where there is a sudden wilting or death of plant parts.
bract : a modified, often much reduced leaf subtending a flower or inflorescence; morphologically a foliar organ
bracteate : possessing or bearing bracts
bracteolate, bracteole : possessing small bracts; a secondary bract, often very small
bracteose : having many bracts
bractlet : a small secondary bract-borne on a pedicel as petiole, instead of subtending it
bristle : a stiff strong trichome (hairs)
bud : an undeveloped shoot containing the embryonic meristems which develop into flowers, stem, or leaves, and are enclosed in protective specialized leaves termed bud scales
bud scales :

specialised protective leaves which cover the shoot apex and embryonic leaves of a winter bud, preventing dessication and injury
bud scale scars : scars left on a twig by the abcision of bud scales from the terminal buds of the
previous year
bulliform cells : large, thin-walled cells present in the leaves of most of monocots
bundle cap : sclerenchyma or thick-walled parenchyma associated with a vascular bundle and appearing like a cap on the phloem or xylem side, as seen in cross-section
bundle sheath : a special layer, or layers of cells which enclose the vascular bundles of dicot and monocot leaves. The cells are of often parenchyma or some times of sclerenchyma
butt : the base of a plant from which the root springs
C
caducous : falling or dropping off very early
caespitose : see cespitose
calcarate : with a spur; spurred
callus : a tissue composed of large thin-walled parenchyma cells which develop on or below a wounded surface often resulting in a firm thickening or protruberance
calyculus : a simulated calyx composed of bracts or bractlets
campanulate : bell-shaped
canescence, canescent : covered with dense, fine, greyish-white hairs; becoming hoary, usually with a grey pubescence
canopy : the cover or horizontal projection of the vegetation of a plant formed by its leaves, branches etc.
capillary, capillate : very slender, resembling a hair
capitate : formed like a head; aggregated into very dense clusters or heads
carnose : fleshy
cartilaginous : like cartilage in texture; firm and elastic
caryopsis : a one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with the seed coat adnate to the fruit wall (pericarp), derived from a one-loculed superior ovary; the grain or fruit of grasses
caudate : bearing a tail, or tail-like appendage
caudex : a shoot thickened, often woody, vertical or branched perennial stem, usually subterranean or at ground level
cellulose : a complex carbohydrate, the chief component of the cell walls of most plants; it consists of long chain-like molecules of glucose which form microfibrils
ceraceous, ceriferous : waxy; wax-bearing
cernuous : nodding or drooping
cespitose, caespitose : matted, growing in tufts or small dense clumps; plants forming a cushion
chartaceous : papery in texture, opaque and thin
ciliate : fringed with conspicuous hairs along the margins
clasping : a leaf blade which partly or wholly surrounds the stem
clavate : club-shaped; gradually thickened towards the apex from a slender base
claw : the modified auricle of some grass leaves
closed bundle : a vascular bundle in which a cambium does not develop
closed venation : leaf characterised by anastomosing veins
comose : bearing a tuft of trichomes, usually apically
coleoptile : a protective sheath like structure enclosing the epicotyl in seeds of grasses
concrescent : growing together of parts originally separate
congeneric : belonging to the same genus
conglomerate : densely clustered
connate : union or fusion of like parts or organs to one another
connate-perfoliate : opposite, sessile leaves, instead at their bases, surrounding the stem
connective : an extension of the filament, connecting the two cells of an anther
conspecific : within or belonging to the same species
convolute : rolled up longitudinally and usually twisted apically
cordate : heart-shaped, having notched end at the base and the pointed end at the apex
coriaceous :

thick, tough and leathery
corniculate : bearing or terminating in a small horn-like process
corrigate : irregularly folded or wrinkled
crassinucellate ovule : one of two general type of nucellar organization found in angiosperms in which the megasporocyte forms a sporogonous cell deeply embedded with in the nucellus
crenate : shallowly ascending round toothed or teeth obtuse
crispate, crisped : irregularly curled leaf margin or trichome
crustaceous : hard, thin and brittle
cucullate : hooded or hood-shaped
culm : the stem of a grass or sedges
culm leaf : consists of a sheath, blade, ligule and auricles
culm sheath : the sheath of the culm leaf, borne singly at each node of the culm proper, below the level at which the sheath of foliage leaves originate
cuneate, cuneiform : wedge-shaped; triangular, with the narrow part at the point of attachment
cuspidate : with an apex somewhat abruptly and sharply constricted into an elongated, sharp-pointed tip or cusp
cuticle : a noncellular layer of waxy or fatty materials on the outer wall of epidemal cells
cutting : a vegetative portion removed (cut) from a plant for the purpose of propagation
D
damping off : a fungal disease of seedlings which causes them to rot and shrivel at soil level, or to die before they emerge from the soil
deciduous : the falling of parts at the end of a growing period
declinate : bend or directed downwards or forward
decumbent : a growing habit in which a portion of the stems or shoots lie close to the ground, without rooting adventitously, the upper parts of the stem are erect or ascending
decurrent : an extension of tissue occuring down the stem below the point of insertion of a leaf petiole or ligule, forming a wing or ridge
decussate : opposite leaves alternating at right angles with those above and below
deflexed :

reflexed; bent or turned abruptly downward
dentate : with toothed margin
denticulate : minutely toothed, finely dentate
depressed : pressed downward close to the axis
determinate : growth of limited duration
determinate : an inflorescence in which the terminal or central flower develops first, thereby asserting inflorescence further elongation of the inflorescence axis
dichogamy : in a bisexual flower, maturation of stamens and stigma at different times, thus preventing self-pollination
dichotomous : branching by repeated forking in pairs
dieback : a progressive death of plant shoots beginning at the tip
diffuse : the loosely branching or spreading; widely spread
digitate : finger like
dilated : flattened and broadened
dimidiate : unequally divided in two
discrete : separate, not coalesced
dissected : deeply divided
distal : opposite from the point of origin or attachment towards the apex
diurnal : opening during the day
dmso : dimethyl sulphoxide
dorsal : the lower or undersurface of a leaf; abaxial
E
ebracteate : without bracts
ecotone : a transition zone; a region of overlapping plant association, between two adjascent ecosystems
edaphic : pertaining to, or influenced by, soil conditions
elliptical, elliptic : oval in outline but widest about the middle
emarginate : bearing a shallow notch at the apex
endemic : native or confined naturally to a particular and usually very restricted geographical area or region
endocarp : the innermost layer of the pericarp or fruit wall
ensiform, ensate : sword-shaped
entire : without indentations or incisions on the margin; smooth
epicotyl : portion of the axis of an embryo
erect : directed towards summit, not decumbant
explorate : spread out flat
explant : an exised tissue or organ fragment which is used to initiate an in vitro culture
exserted : projecting beyond, sticking out or protruding
extrorse : opening or facing outwards
F
falcate : sickle-shaped
fallow : agricultural land left uncultivated for one or more seasons to allow for the accumulation of moisture, destruction of weeds, and the decomposition of organic matter
fariaceous, farinose : covered with a mealy powder
fascicle, fascicled : a close cluster of flowers, leaves etc. in groups (bundles)
filiform : thread like, flexuous
fimbriate : margins fringed, with long and coarse hairs
fistular, fistulose : hollow and cylindrical
fibre : long, narrow cell of wood or bark other than vessel or parenchyma elements
fibre saturation point : the point at which there is no more free water in the culm, but the cell walls are still saturated with water
flagelliform : whip-shaped
flexibility ratio : parameter used by the pulps and paper industry, desired from the fibre dimensions of the culm, fibre lumen diameter divided by fibre diameter, multiplied by 100
flexuous : coarsely sinuous or wavy; curved alternately in opposite directions
fri : forest research institute
ftir : fourier transform infra-red
furcate : forked
fusiform : spindle-shaped
G
gemmiparous : producing a bud or reproducing by a bud
germplasm : collection of genotypes of an organism
geniculate : abruptly bent at a joint, like a bent on knee
genus : the smallest natural group containing distinct species
gibbous : swollen on one side near the base
girdle : a conspicuous horizontal band of tissue inserted circumaxially at the node of some bamboos
glabrous : without pubescence; not hairy
glans : a fruit with hard, smooth crustaceous pericarp separated from seed coat
glaucous : covered with a removable waxy coating which gives the surface a whitish or bluishs
green cast
globose, globular : spherical or rounded
glomerate : in dense or compact clusters or head
glumes : a pair of small scale like bracts subtending a grass spikelet
glutinous : with sticky exudate
gregarious : growing in groups or colonies; in bamboos, gregarious flowering is used to indicate that a whole population flowers over a period of time
H
habit : the general appearance or characteristic form of a plant, or other organisational erect, prostrate, climbing etc.
habitat : the natural environment of an organism; the place where it is usually found
hemi : a prefix meaning half
hemicellulose : a polysaccharide resembling cellulose but more soluble and less complex; a common component of the cell wall matrix
herbarium : a collection of dried and pressed plant specimens, systematically arranged and labelled; used for taxonomic studies
heterogeneous : not uniform
hexaploid : having six haploid chromosome sets (6n)
hilum : a scar on a seed marking the point of attachment to the funiculus
hirsute : covered with rather rough and stiff hairs
hispid : covered with long, stiff trichome; usually stiff enough to penetrate the stem
hoary : coverd with a white or greyish-white pubescence: syn. canescent
holosericeous : covered with fine and silky pubescence
holotype : the single specimen, the type specimen designated to carry the name of a new species
homogenous : uniform, alike; having the same nature or consistancy
homonym : in nomenclature, a name rejected because it duplicates a name previously and validly published for a group of the same taxonomic rank and based on a different type
humus : decomposing organic matter in the soil
hypogeal, hypogean : describing seed germination in which the cotyledons remain beneath the surface of the soil
I
iaa : : indole acetic acid
iba : indole butyric acid
imbricate : : with margins of structures overlapping
incanescent : : becoming grey
incised : leaf margins cut sharply, irregularly and deeply
incrassate : : thickened
increment : : addition, increase
incumbent : : lying or leaving upon; anthers turned inward
incurved : : curved inward or upward
indefinite : indeterminate
indehiscent : : not dehiscent, remaining closed at maturit
indeterminate growth : : unrestricted growth, as with a vegetative apical meristem, capable of producing an unlimited number of lateral organs
indigenous : : native to a region or country
inflexed : bent abruptly inward
innate : : borne at the tip of a supporting structure
imperfect stage :

: the part of life cycle which reproduces only by asexual means
inserted : : growing upon or attached to
integument : : the outer cell layer which surrounds the nucellus of the angiosperm ovule and develops into the seed coat
intercoastal : : space between ribs
internode : : the portion of the stem between two successive nodes
introduced : : brought into one area or region from another
introrse : : turned inward towards the axis; as the opening of an anther towards the inside of a flower
invaginated : enclosed within a sheath
inverted : : upside down; turned over
involute : : margins rolled or turned in over the upper or ventral surface
isotype : a specimen of the type collection other than the holotype; a duplicate of the holotype
isozymes : : different forms of the same enzyme
K
keel : : a sharp crease or ridge; the two united petals of a paplionaceous flower
keeled : : having a keel, sharply creased
kfri : : kerala forest research institute
kiln dried : being seasoned in a kiln
kn/mm2 : : kilo newton per millimetre square
kraft pulp : : sulphate pulp
L
labiate : lipped; having a lipped structure
lacerate : : cut irregularly, appearing torn, as in certain leaves and ligules
laciate : : cut deeply into closely parallel, narrow divisions
lamella : : a thin plate or layer of photosynthetic membranes
meristem : undifferentiated tissue of the growing points whose cells are capable of dividing and developing into various organs and tissues
mesophyll : the photosynthetic tissue between the upper and lower epidermis of a leaf
microclimate : the climate in the immediate vicinity of an organism
microfibril : : the primary structural components of a plant cell wall, composed of chain-like cellulose molecules
micropyle : a small opening with integuments of an ovule through which the pollen tube usually enters to reach the nucellus
midrib : : the main vein of a leaf which is a continuation of the petiole
middle lamella : an inter cellular substance, composed mostly of pectic compounds, that counts the primary walls of contiguous cells
modulus of elasticity : modulus of elasticity (in N/mm2) indicates the ratio between the bending stress in the
(MOE) material and the relative deformation caused by this bending stress; it is a measure of rigidity
modulus of rupture : fibre stress at maximum load, maximum fibre stress, ultimate bending stress necessary to
(MOR) bring about future of the tested material when bent (in N/mm2)
moisture content : : the weight of water in the culm expressed as a percentage of the dry weight of the culm
(MC)
monadelphous : stamens united by connation of their filaments into a single group forming a tube or column
monopodial : : a form of branching in which lateral branches usually originate at some distance from the apex of the main axis. In bamboos, a primary axis continues its original line of growth from the same apical meristem to produce successive lateral branches
mosaic : : with a variegated or mottled appearance
mother cell : : precursory cell
mottled : : with blotched or spotted appearance
ms medium : : murashige and skoog’s medium
mucronate : terminated abruptly in a short stiff point
multicoastal : : many-ribbed
muricate : : rough, as a surface covered with many minute, sharp protruberances
muticous : : pointless, blunt, awnless
N, O
naa : naphthalene acetic acid
naturalized : : an organism which is well-established and reproducing in one area but originally came from another area, introduced to a new area
neck : : the constricted basal part
necrosis : : the death of cells
necrosis : : the death of cells
n/mm2 : newton per millimetre square
node : a region on this stem where leaves are attached; or the point of branching of the stem
nomenclature : naming of things, particuarly organisms; correct usage of scientific name used in taxonomy
nucellus : : the tissue of an ovule, from which the embryo sac develops
obcordate : : inversely cordate with the notch at the apex
oblanceolate : inversely lanceolate; with the broadest portion nearest the apex and tapering toward the base
oblique : slanted; with unequal sides
oblong : much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides
obovate : : inversely ovate, with the terminal half broader than the basal
obtuse : blunt or rounded at the apex
offset : : a short, lateral shoot or branch which develops from the main stem producing a means of vegetative propagation
orbicular, orbiculate : more or less circular in outline or shape
oval : broadly elliptical, the width more than half the length
ovate : : egg-shaped in outline, with the axis widest below the middle
ovoid : : an object that is oval in outline
ovulate : bearing ovules
P
pachymorph : : one of two general types of rhizome, characterised by a shortened thick and fleshy stem end determinate growth; its growth produces many-branched clumps which terminate in flowering stalks
palea : : the upper or inner of a pair of bracts that subtends the floret
paleaceous : : having small membranous scales
panicle : an indeterminate inflorescence, the main axis of which is branched, with pedicellate flowers borne upon the secondary branches
paniculate : having a panicle type of inflorescence
pantropical : : distributed throughout the tropics
papillae : : a soft, nipple-shaped protuberance
parenchyma : : tissue composed of more or less isodiametric cells, as in pith and mesophyll
parthenocarpy : : the natural or artificially induced development of fruit without sexual fertilization
pedicel : : the stalk of an individual flower in an inflorescence or the stalk of a grass spikelet
peg : : poly ethylene glycol
pendent, pendulous : : suspended, drooping, hanging down from a support
penicillate : : ending in a tuft of fine hairs or branches
percolation : : the downward movement of water through the soil
perennial : a plant which lives for more than two years and usually flowers every year
perfect flower : : a flower having both stamens and carpels
pericarp : : the mature fruit wall which develops from the ovary wall, frequently differentiated into distinct layers; exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp (outer, middle, and inner layers)
periclinal : : parallel to the surface
perigynium : : a sac like bract which surrounds the pistillate flower or achene
persistent : : remaining attached, not falling off
petiolate : : having a petiole
petiole : the stock of a leaf
phloem : : the principal food-conducting tissue of a vascular plant which is usually composed of sieve elements, parenchyma cells, fibres and sclereids
pileate : having a cap or cap-like structure
piliferous : hair-like, flexuous
pilose : having soft, long, shaggy trichomes
plicate : : plaited, fan-like
plumose : covered with a fine, feather like pubescence
plumule : the first bud of an embryo, the part of the embryonic axis above the cotyledonary node
prickle : a sharp-pointed epidermal or cortical outgrowth
proembryo : : an embryo in the early stages of development
proproots : aerial roots
propagule : : a part of a plant that becomes detached and grows into a new plant
prophyll : one of the first leaves of a lateral branch; a bracteole or small scale like appendage
protogyny : : flowers in which the stigma becomes receptive prior to maturation of anthers and dehiscence of pollen in the same flower
proximal : : the part nearest the axis
pruinose : : having a heavy waxy bloom on the surface
pruning : cutting off the superfluous branches or shoots of a plant for better shape or more fruitful growth
pseudospikelet : a spikelet-like branch of an indeterminate inflorescence
pubescence, pubescent : covered with short, soft trichomes
punctate : dotted with minute depressions
pulp : the soft fleshy part of the fruit; mechanically ground or chemically digested wood used in manufacturing paper and allied products
Q, R
quadr, quandra, quadri : a prefix meaning four
raceme : : an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence, in which the individual flowers are borne on pedicels along the main axis
racemose : like a raceme; having flowers in raceme like inflorescence that may or may not be true racemes
rachilla : : a diminutive or secondary axis, as the stalk of the spikelets of grasses
rachis : : the axis of a compound leaf upon which the leaflets are attached; the major axis of an inflorescence
radial : : lengthwise, in a plane that passes through the pit; radiating, as from a centre
ramified, ramiform : branched; branching
radical : : arising from the root, or its crown
radicle : : the first root of an embryo or germinating seed
rhomboidal : : diamond-shaped
recurved : bent or curved downward or backward
reflexed : : abruptly bent or turned downward or backward
reniform : kidney-shaped
reticulate : forming a network
rhizome : : an underground stem which is distinguished from a root by the presence of nodes, buds and leaves or scales
rostrate, rostrum : having a beak
ruffled : having a very strong wavy margin
rugose : wrinkled, covered with coarse reticulate lines
Runkel ratio : parameter used by the pulp and paper industry, derived from the fibre dimensions of the culm; twice the fibre wall thickness divided by the fibre lumen diameter
runner : : a specialized stem that develops from a leaf axil at the crown of a plant, grows horizontally along the ground and forms a new plant at one of the nodes, usually at or near the tip
S
sagittate : : shaped like an arrow head; triangular-ovate with two straight or slightly concave
basal lobes
scabrid : : roughened
scabrous : : having a surface that is rough to touch, because of the presence of short stiff hairs
scale : any thin, usually small and dry, scarious to coriaceous bract
scandent : : climbing
scarious : a thin, nongreen, dry, membranous structure
sclerenchyma cell : a supporting cell, variable in form and size, having a more or less thick, often lignified secondary cell walls. Includes fibres, fibre-tracheids and sclerieds
scurfy : covered with minute, branch like scales; with scaly incrustation
scutellum : : single cotyledon of a grass embryo
seepage : percolation of water through the soil
senescence : the aging process
septate : : being divided or partitioned by cross walls into locules or cells
sericeous : : having a saw-toothed margin with sharp teeth pointing forward or toward the apex
serrate : : toothed like a saw
sessile : without a stalk
setaceous : having bristle like hairs; bristly
sheathing base : : a leaf base that surrounds a stem
sieve element : : a cell of the phloem concerned mainly with the longitudinal transport of food materials.
siliceous, silicious : composed of or impregnated with silica (silicon dioxide)
sinuous : : having a strongly wavy margin
slenderness ratio : parameter used by the pulp and paper industry, derived from the fibre dimensions in the culm; fibre length divided by fibre diameter
sparsely : : scattered
spatulate : : spoon or spatula-shaped
spicate : : having the form of or produced in a spike
spike : : a simple indeterminate infloresence with sessile flowers along a single axis
spikelet : : a secondary spike, one of the units of which the inflorescence consisting of one or more florets on a thin axis, subtended by a common pair of glumes as in grasses
spinose, spinous : spine-like, or having spines
sporadic : widely dispersed or scattered; irregular in time, flowering at irregular intervals
stipitate : borne on a stipe or stalk
straggling : : extremely divergent, spreading very far apart
striate : marked with fine longitudinal parallel lines, as grooves or ridges
subspecies : a subdivision of a species, in rank between a variety and a species
subulate : : awl-shaped, tapering from base to apex
sulcate :   having longitudinal grooves, furrows or channels
strigose : : having straight, sharp, stiff, appressed hairs frequently with a bulbous base
sympodial : : of a stem in which the growing point either terminates in an inflorescence or dies, growth being continued by a new lateral growing point
T
tangential : lengthwise, in a plane at right angles to the radius but not passing through the pith
tawny : : dull yellowish-brown; fulvous
terete : more or less circular in cross section; cylindrical and elongated
Q, R
quadr, quandra, quadri : : a prefix meaning four
raceme : : an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence, in which the individual flowers are borne on pedicels along the main axis
racemose : : like a raceme; having flowers in raceme like inflorescence that may or may not be true racemes
rachilla : : a diminutive or secondary axis, as the stalk of the spikelets of grasses
rachis : : the axis of a compound leaf upon which the leaflets are attached; the major axis of an inflorescence
radial : : lengthwise, in a plane that passes through the pit; radiating, as from a centre
ramified, ramiform : branched; branching
radical : : arising from the root, or its crown
radicle : : the first root of an embryo or germinating seed
rhomboidal : diamond-shaped
recurved : : bent or curved downward or backward
reflexed : abruptly bent or turned downward or backward
reniform : : kidney-shaped
reticulate : : forming a network
rhizome : : an underground stem which is distinguished from a root by the presence of nodes, buds and leaves or scales
rostrate, rostrum : : having a beak
ruffled : : having a very strong wavy margin
rugose : : wrinkled, covered with coarse reticulate lines
Runkel ratio : parameter used by the pulp and paper industry, derived from the fibre dimensions of the culm; twice the fibre wall thickness divided by the fibre lumen diameter
runner : : a specialized stem that develops from a leaf axil at the crown of a plant, grows horizontally along the ground and forms a new plant at one of the nodes, usually at or near the tip
S
sagittate : : shaped like an arrow head; triangular-ovate with two straight or slightly concave
basal lobes
scabrid : : roughened
scabrous : : having a surface that is rough to touch, because of the presence of short stiff hairs
scale : any thin, usually small and dry, scarious to coriaceous bract
scandent : climbing
scarious : : a thin, nongreen, dry, membranous structure
sclerenchyma cell : a supporting cell, variable in form and size, having a more or less thick, often lignified secondary cell walls. Includes fibres, fibre-tracheids and sclerieds
scurfy : covered with minute, branch like scales; with scaly incrustation
scutellum : : single cotyledon of a grass embryo
seepage : : percolation of water through the soil
senescence : the aging process
septate : : being divided or partitioned by cross walls into locules or cells
sericeous : : having a saw-toothed margin with sharp teeth pointing forward or toward the apex
serrate : toothed like a saw
sessile : : without a stalk
setaceous : having bristle like hairs; bristly
sheathing base : a leaf base that surrounds a stem
sieve element : a cell of the phloem concerned mainly with the longitudinal transport of food materials.
siliceous, silicious : : composed of or impregnated with silica (silicon dioxide)
sinuous : : having a strongly wavy margin
slenderness ratio : : parameter used by the pulp and paper industry, derived from the fibre dimensions in the culm; fibre length divided by fibre diameter
sparsely : : scattered
spatulate : : spoon or spatula-shaped
spicate : having the form of or produced in a spike
spike : : a simple indeterminate infloresence with sessile flowers along a single axis
spikelet : a secondary spike, one of the units of which the inflorescence consisting of one or more florets on a thin axis, subtended by a common pair of glumes as in grasses
spinose, spinous : spine-like, or having spines
sporadic : widely dispersed or scattered; irregular in time, flowering at irregular intervals
stipitate : : borne on a stipe or stalk
straggling : extremely divergent, spreading very far apart
striate : marked with fine longitudinal parallel lines, as grooves or ridges
subspecies : : a subdivision of a species, in rank between a variety and a species
subulate : : awl-shaped, tapering from base to apex
sulcate : : having longitudinal grooves, furrows or channels
strigose : having straight, sharp, stiff, appressed hairs frequently with a bulbous base
sympodial : : of a stem in which the growing point either terminates in an inflorescence or dies, growth being continued by a new lateral growing point
T
tangential : : lengthwise, in a plane at right angles to the radius but not passing through the pith
tawny : : dull yellowish-brown; fulvous
terete : more or less circular in cross section; cylindrical and elongated
terminal : found at the tip, apex or distal end
tesselate : having a checkered pattern
tomentose : : covered with dense, matted, woolly hairs
tortuous : : cut off more or less squarely at the end; a base or apex which ends abruptly
trigonal : : three-angled
truncate : : a base or apex which ends abruptly almost right angles to the main axis
tufted : : in clumps; clustered, cespitose
turbinate : : shaped like a top; inversely conical
unarmed : : devoid of thorns, spines or prickles
undulate : a margin wavy (up and down) in the vertical plane
uni : a prefix meaning one or single
unitegmic ovule : an ovule with a single integument
V
vaginate : : sheathed
varicose : abnormally and irregularly enlarged or swollen
vein : a strand of vascular tissue in the organs like leaf or petals
ventricose : enlarged or swollen unequally; inflated on one side near the middle. syn. gibbose;
velvety : with a matting of the soft hairs; the same as tomentose but dense so that the surface feels very smooth
ventral : : facing central axis
verticillate : arrangement in whorls, arising at same node
villose : with long weak hairs
viviparous, vivipary : : germinating or sprouting of bud or seed still attached to the parent plant