Botanical Nerd Word: Ensiform
Ensiform: Lance- or sword-shaped with the widest point toward the base. Synonyms: gladiate, lanceolate.* Ensiform leaves are common in plants in the iris family (Iridaceae), such…
Author Archives: Weston Family Library
Botanical Nerd Word: Pedate
Pedate: Palmately divided leaf with the lower leaflets further split in two.* The hellebores are beginning to bloom all over the garden this week. Many hellebores have…
Botanical Nerd Word: Spine
Spine: Sharp, pointed modified leaf, leaflet, bract, sepal, or stipule.* These Berberis (barberry) spines are actually modified leaves. Botanically, they’re different from thorns or prickles which…
Botanical Nerd Word: Scape
Scape: A leafless flower stalk.* Snowdrops (Galanthus) produce their flowers at the end of scapes. Garlic also produces scapes which are edible and delicious! *Allaby, M….
Botanical Nerd Word: Graveolent
Graveolent: Strongly scented, often unpleasantly so.* Symplocarpus foetidus, commonly known as eastern skunk cabbage, is one of the first plants to bloom in the spring. It’s just…
Botanical Nerd Word: Prickle
Prickle: A small, sharp outgrowth of the epidermis or bark.* A prickle is a distinct botanical structure, different from a spine or a thorn. Despite…
Botanical Nerd Word: Burl
Burl: Woody knot in the trunk, branches, or roots of a tree, caused by something that has damaged the tree (infection, disease, or injury), prized…
Botanical Nerd Word: Quiescent
Quiescent: In a state or condition of quietness; motionless; inactive; dormant.* Seeds in storage are said to be quiescent. They are purposely kept dry and cool…
Botanical Nerd Word: Monopodial
Monopodial: Having a single axis of growth with lateral branching occurring on either side of the main axis, most commonly used to describe the growth of…
Botanical Nerd Word: Carina
Carina: A keel or ridge.* These paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) have keeled flower stalks with a prominent ridge running the length of each side. Paperwhites are commonly forced…