Botanical Nerd Word: Runcinate
Runcinate: Pinnatifid with the lobes pointed and sloping toward the petiole; e.g., the leaves of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)* Pinnatifid leaves have lobes that are divided halfway…
Author Archives: Weston Family Library
Botanical Nerd Word: Hypogeal germination
Hypogeal germination: Seed germination in which the cotyledons remain below the soil surface.* The cotyledons (seed leaves) of peas stay below ground. The first thing to…
Botanical Nerd Word: Epigeal germination
Epigeal germination: Seed germination in which the cotyledons (seed leaves) are raised above the soil surface.* These arugula seedlings raise their heart-shaped cotyledons above the soil…
Botanical Nerd Word: Cotyledon
Cotyledon: A primary leaf of the embryo; a seed leaf.* This cauliflower seedling has two cotyledons. Cotyledons are not true leaves, they are part of the…
Botanical Nerd Word: Signal
Signal: (in Irises) A patch of contrasting colour that surrounds or forms a flare on the falls (lower petals) and functions as a signal for…
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…
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…