Botanical Nerd Word: Capitulum
Capitulum: An inflorescence of sessile flowers borne on a flattened and expanded portion of the inflorescence axis; the inflorescence of the sunflower family (Asteraceae).* All…
Author Archives: Weston Family Library
Botanical Nerd Word: Polystachyous
Polystachyous: With many spikes, as in a grass with many ears or spikes.* Moor grass (Molinia) growing in the Arrival Courtyard. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001)….
Botanical Nerd Word: Infructescence
Infructescence: Branched or unbranched axis upon which fruits are arranged.* A plant’s infructescence follows the form of its inflorescence (arrangement of flowers). *Pell, S.K., Angell, B….
Botanical Nerd Word: Ballistic dispersal
Ballistic dispersal: (syn. ballochory) Mode of dispersal by which the diaspores are actively or passively catapulted away from the plant. This can either happen arbitrarily or…
Botanical Nerd Word: Epizoochory
Epizoochory: The inadvertent dispersal of seeds on the outside of animals. Dog owners are well aware of the dreaded burs that become entangled in their…
Botanical Nerd Word: Locule
Locule: A chamber within an ovary, anther, sporangium, or fruit; in ovary and fruit, usually corresponding to a carpel.* In this tomato cross section, the…
Botanical Nerd Word: Pleiomerous
Pleiomerous: Having more than the usual number of parts in a floral whorl; e.g. roses (Rosa) that have a proliferation of petals.* In nature, roses…
Botanical Nerd Word: Climacteric
Climacteric: The phase of increased respiration found at the ripening of fruit and at senescence.* Fruits such as bananas and tomatoes are climacteric and can ripen…
Botanical Nerd Word: Ligulate
Ligulate: With a ligule; strap-shaped.* Each ‘petal’ on these flower heads is, in fact, a tiny separate flower called a ray floret. Each ray floret…
Botanical Nerd Word: Cucullate
Cucullate: Hooded; shaped like a hood or cowl.* These Aconitum (monkshood) in the Garden Hall Courtyard have hooded flowers. *OED Online. Oxford University Press, June 2017.