Author: Weston Family Library

Hysteranthous: Of plants: Having the flowers appearing before the leaves.* This Colchicum produces flowers in the fall but its leaves won’t appear until next spring. *OED Online. Oxford University Press, June 2017.

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 the fall asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) …

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). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated …

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. (2016). A botanist’s vocabulary: 1300 …

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 be set off by an …

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 dog’s fur during a walk. …

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 locules are the areas filled …

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 (genus Rosa) have flowers with only …

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 off the plant if picked …

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 produces a long, yellow strap …