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Actinomorphic: Having multiple planes of symmetry such that any line drawn through the middle produces two mirror-image halves, usually applied to flowers.* Compare with zygomorphic. This striking red Dahlia ‘Mystic Enchantment’ …

Perfect: Flowers that have functioning female and male reproductive parts.* The flowers of this Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree) have both male (pollen producing) stamens as well as female (pollen receiving) …

Raceme: An inflorescence with pedicellate flowers borne on an unbranched elongated central axis.* The racemes of this wisteria are pendulous, hanging down through their supports. Each flower is attached to …

Umbel: A mass of inflorescence borne upon pedicels of nearly equal length springing from a common centre.* The garden is full of alliums (flowering onions) this week. Their spherical umbels are …

Fornix (pl. fornices): One of a set of small crests or scales in the throat of a corolla, as in many of the Boraginaceae.* This Brunnera has pale yellow fornices …

Cotyledon: A seed leaf; a food storage structure in seeds.* Cotyledons provide nutrients to the developing plant as it grows its first true leaves. The cotyledons on these bean seedlings (the pair …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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, …