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Ternate: Divided in three; e.g., trifoliate leaf.* Shamrocks, or clovers, have ternate leaves. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! *Pell, S.K., Angell, B. (2016). A botanist’s vocabulary: 1300 terms explained and illustrated. …

Plumule: (Syn. epicotyl) The portion of the embryo above the point of attachment of the cotyledon(s) which gives rise to the shoot.* In the image above, the plumule is emerging …

Sarcous: Fleshy.* Succulents and cacti are typically very fleshy plants. This Aloe vera has sarcous leaves, prized for their skin-soothing properties. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An …

Stipe: 1. In ferns, the stalk of the frond, equivalent to the petiole of seed plants; 2. In orchids, the stalk-like connection between the viscidium and the pollinia.* This potted, …

Schizocarp: A dry fruit which splits into separate one-seeded segments (carpels) at maturity.* The image shows the various stages of development of fennel from flowers through to seeds. What is …

Pericarp: The fruit wall, derived from the ovary wall and consisting of up to three layers: exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp.* Peaches are a type of fruit called a drupe. In …

Endocarp: The inner layer of the pericarp of a fruit.* For example, the hard, stony shell at the centre of a peach which contains the peach seed. *Harris, J.G., Harris, …

Mesocarp: The middle layer of the pericarp of a fruit.* The mesocarp is often the delicious fleshy part of the fruit, such as the edible portion of an avocado or …

Exocarp (syn. Epicarp): Outermost layer of the fruit wall (pericarp)* For example, the outer skin of a peach or plum. *Pell, S.K., Angell, B. (2016). A botanist’s vocabulary: 1300 terms …

Cone: A dense cluster of sporophylls on an axis; a strobilus.*   *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd ed.). Spring Lake: Spring Lake Publishing.