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Silique: A dry, dehiscent fruit of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) typically more than twice as long as wide, with two valves separating from the persistent placentae and septum.* The long seed pods …

Involucre: A whorl of bracts below an inflorescence.* The green cup at the base of thistle flowers is a classic involucre. *Allaby, M. (2006). A dictionary of plant sciences (Revised …

Floret: One of the individual small flowers of a clustered inflorescence, e.g. sunflower.* Coneflowers, Echinacea purpurea, are in the Asteraceae (sunflower/daisy family). Like all members of that family, their ‘flowers’ are …

Petrichor: A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.* The rain smell we enjoy is actually the smell of certain plant oils present …

Stigma: The portion of the pistil (female reproductive part of a flower) which is receptive to pollen.* Looking at the bloom on the right side of the image, the stigma …

Salverform: (Of flower shape) a narrow tube with petals bent abruptly outward at right angles. This blue star creeper, Isotoma axillaris, growing in a container, has salverform blooms. Some other …

Aestivation: The arrangement of sepals and petals in a flower bud before opening.* There are several different types of aestivation patterns. This Hibiscus bloom reveals a typical ‘twisted’ aestivation pattern …

Lanate: Clothed with woolly and intergrown hairs.* From Latin lana = wool. Check out the young Salvia argentea plants growing in the garden! *Jackson, B. Daydon. (1928). A glossary of …

Capreolate: With tendrils.* Many vining plants have tendrils. These peas use their tendrils to grasp and coil around supports. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd …

Cruciate (cruciform):  Cross-shaped, used especially of the flowers of the Brassicaceae family.* The 4-petalled flowers of Brassicaceae (mustard family) plants, such as this dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) are characteristically arranged in …