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 pollinating insects.* These irises, blooming …
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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 as the crocus pictured above. …
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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 pedate leaves. *Pell, S.K., Angell, …
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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 are derived from other plant …
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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. (2006). A dictionary of plant …
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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 starting to poke up in …
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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 the saying, every rose doesn’t …
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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 for use in woodworking.* …
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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 to prevent them from germinating. …
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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 inflorescences but also to describe …
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