Botanical Nerd Word: Anther
Anther: The terminal portion of a stamen of a flowering plant. The pollen sacs containing pollen are borne on the anther.* In this image, the tulip’s six anthers are purple. …
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Botanical Nerd Word: Nectary
Nectary: A tissue or organ which produces nectar.* The nectaries of this Fritillaria imperialis can be seen at the inner base of the petals. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant …
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Botanical Nerd Word: Bryophyte
Bryophyte: One of the Bryophyta, a group of plants comprising the liverworts and mosses.* Bryophytes don’t have vascular tissue to transport water around the plant. This is why they are usually …
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Botanical Nerd Word: Ruderal
Ruderal: Of a plant: growing on waste ground or among rubbish, esp. as a pioneer.* The grass on this construction site has been scraped away, leaving bare soil and debris. Unsurprisingly, …
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Botanical Nerd Word: Falls
Falls: The sepals of an iris.* The falls are the three downward hanging parts of the iris flower. These Iris reticulata ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ at TBG have bright yellow signals on their …
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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 first signs of spring. They …
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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 able to produce body heat …
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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 phloem by the presence of …
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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 growth, fruit ripening, senescence, and …
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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 its stem. This may be an …
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