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Fusiform: Three-dimensionally shaped like a spindle, widest at the middle and tapering to a point at both ends.* The winter buds of beech trees (Fagus) have a fusiform shape. *Pell, S.K., …

Procumbent: Growing along the ground without rooting at the nodes.* This cultivar of Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris ‘Albyn Prostrata’, has a procumbent growth habit. In the wild, Scots pine grows …

Acicular: Needle-shaped.* Many conifers have acicular leaves. *Rushforth, K. (1987). Conifers. New York: Facts on File.

Contorted: Twisted or bent.* Pinus strobus ‘Contorta’ is a cultivar of eastern white pine growing in our Nature’s Garden. According to Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plant Finder, it was discovered growing …

Apical Dominance: A condition in plants where the stem apex prevents the development of lateral branches near the apex. It is controlled by auxins produced at the apical bud. Close to …

Viviparous: Offspring developing while still attached to the parent plant, as with seeds germinating in fruits still attached to the parent plant (e.g., mangroves, Avicennia, Rhizophora), or buds that form …

Fastigiate: Having flowers or branches whose extremities form a tapering or cone-like outline.* The pyramidal English oaks (Quercus robar ‘Fastigiata’) growing at the end of the Entry Garden Walk have a …

Bacciferous: Producing berries.* Any plant that produces true berries is bacciferous, like Callicarpa (Beautyberry). *Bagust, H. (1992). The gardener’s dictionary of horticultural terms. London: Cassell.