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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 …

Calcar: A spur or spur-like appendage.* The petals of columbines (Aquilegia spp.), such as this A. canadensis, form spurs out the back of the blooms. The genus name, Aquilegia, comes …

Cauliflorous: Developing flowers directly on a stem or trunk.* From Latin caulis = stem or stalk. Redbud trees, Cercis canadensis, are cauliflorous plants. They are able to produce flowers from the old wood …

Vernation: The pattern of folding and rolling of leaves in a bud.* Different plants use different folding patterns to pack their leaves into the bud. These beech leaves (Fagus spp.) for example, …

Urceolate (ur-see-o-late): Pitcher-like, hollow and contracted at the mouth like an urn or pitcher.* The tiny, individual flowers in the inflorescence of grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.) have an urceolate form. …

Cernuous (sern-you-us): Drooping or nodding.* Trout lilies (Erythronium americanum), coming into bloom now in the woods, have cernuous blooms. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary …

Precocious: Developing or appearing very early; with the flowers developing before the leaves.* The Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ in the Westview Terrace is already starting to flower! It always …

Perule: A leaf-bud scale.* Perules protect the young leaves through the winter. They will soon be falling away as the leaves begin to grow. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant …

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 aerial shoots when favourable growth …

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., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification …