Blog

Parastichy: Spiral formed by tracing the points of attachment of organs on an axis, such as leaves along a stem or scales along the central axis of a cone.* The Euphorbia …

Fasciated: Compressed into a bundle or band; grown closely together; with the stems malformed and flattened as if several separate stems had been fused together.* One of the Berberis in the …

Umbo: A blunt or rounded protuberance, as on the ends of the scales of some pine cones. Some pines have very pronounced umbos that can be quite prickly. *Harris, J.G., …

Lamina: The usually flattened, blade-like portion of a leaf, as distinct from the petiole and leaf base. The shape of the lamina and the nature of its margin are important taxonomic …

Pepo: Unilocular berry with hard exocarp, characteristic of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).* The pumpkin is a classic example of a pepo. In fact, the species most often used to make jack-o-lanterns …

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 …