Botanical Nerd Word: Catkin
Catkin: A pendulous spike, usually of simple, unisexual flowers.* Pussy willows, a common name which can refer to several different plants, are one of the…
Author Archives: Weston Family Library
Botanical Nerd Word: Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis: The generation or production of heat, esp. in the animal body.* Although body heat is usually associated only with animals, some plants are actually…
Botanical Nerd Word: Xylem
Xylem: A plant tissue consisting of various types of cells, which transports water and dissolved substances towards the leaves. It can be distinguished from the…
Botanical Nerd Word: Ethylene
Ethylene: A gas (C2H4) that is produced naturally by plants, and which functions as a hormone in the control of such processes as germination, cell…
Botanical Nerd Word: Adventitious
Adventitious: Structures or organs developing in an unusual position, as roots originating on the stem.* This Crassula ovata (jade plant) is producing adventitious roots along…
Botanical Nerd Word: Anthropochory
Anthropochory: (from Greek: anthropos = human being + chorein = to disperse, to wander): dispersal of fruits and seeds by man.* Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion) was introduced…
Botanical Nerd Word: Radicle
Radicle: The part of the plant embryo which will develop into the primary root.* This adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is just starting to sprout. The…
Botanical Nerd Word: Keiki
Keiki: A Hawaiian word referring to a baby plant produced asexually by an orchid plant.* Keikis sometimes form at the nodes on the flowering stems of…
Botanical Nerd Word: Pollinia
Pollinia (sing. pollinium): Hardened, cohesive masses of pollen grains, characteristic of orchids.* When a pollinator visits an orchid, it receives a discrete package of pollen…
Botanical Nerd Word: Fedge
Fedge: A fence made up of living plants, especially willow, thus somewhat resembling a hedge.* The word ‘fedge’ is a combination of ‘fence’ and ‘hedge.’…