Botanical Nerd Word: Geophyte
Geophyte: A plant that survives an unfavourable period by means of underground food-storage organs (e.g. rhizomes, tubers, and bulbs). Buds arise from these to produce new…
Author Archives: Weston Family Library
Botanical Nerd Word: Corona
Corona: Petal-like or crown-like structures between the petals and stamens in some flowers.* The ‘trumpet’ part of daffodils (Narcissus spp.), for example. *Harris, J.G.,…
Botanical Nerd Word: Galochrous
Galochrous: Milk-white in colour. Galanthus (snowdrops) are blooming in the garden. The genus name Galanthus comes from Greek gala, milk + anthos, flower. Allaby, M. (2006). A dictionary…
Botanical Nerd Word: Ternate
Ternate: Divided in three; e.g., trifoliate leaf.* Shamrocks, or clovers, have ternate leaves. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! *Pell, S.K., Angell, B. (2016). A botanist’s vocabulary:…
Botanical Nerd Word: Plumule
Plumule: (Syn. epicotyl) The portion of the embryo above the point of attachment of the cotyledon(s) which gives rise to the shoot.* In the image…
Botanical Nerd Word: Sarcous
Sarcous: Fleshy.* Succulents and cacti are typically very fleshy plants. This Aloe vera has sarcous leaves, prized for their skin-soothing properties. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W….
Botanical Nerd Word: Achene
Achene: A small, dry, indehiscent fruit with a single locule and a single seed (ovule), and with the seed attached to the ovary wall at…
Botanical Nerd Word: Stipe
Stipe: 1. In ferns, the stalk of the frond, equivalent to the petiole of seed plants; 2. In orchids, the stalk-like connection between the viscidium…
Botanical Nerd Word: Schizocarp
Schizocarp: A dry fruit which splits into separate one-seeded segments (carpels) at maturity.* The image shows the various stages of development of fennel from flowers…
Botanical Nerd Word: Pericarp
Pericarp: The fruit wall, derived from the ovary wall and consisting of up to three layers: exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp.* Peaches are a type of…