Word of the Week

Caespitose: Growing in dense tufts.* Many grasses have a caespitose growth habit, including these Miscanthus plants. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd ed.). Spring Lake: …

Strict: Very straight and upright, not at all spreading.* This arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) in the Knot Garden has a very upright growth habit. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An …

Bundle trace (syn. bundle scar): Scar left on a twig by the vascular bundles when a leaf falls.* Different plants have different numbers of bundle traces in their leaf scars. They …

Ligneous: Woody.* Now that the frosty weather is setting in, it’s easy to see which plants are ligneous. Herbaceous plants die back to the ground while ligneous plants like trees …

Exfoliate: To peel of in flakes or layers, as the bark of some trees.* The exfoliating bark of paperbark maples make them a great choice for winter interest in the garden. …

Imparipinnate: Pinnately compound with an odd number of leaflets, terminating in a single leaflet. Syn. Odd-pinnate* For example, the leaves of this sumac. *Pell, S.K., Angell, B. (2016). A botanist’s …

Pinnate: Leaf with veins, lobes, leaflets, or dissections arising along a central elongate axis.* These beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) have a pinnate vein pattern. *Pell, S.K., Angell, B. (2016). A botanist’s …

Palmatifid: Of a leaf shape which is shaped like a hand but with the leaf divisions stopping half-way down the ‘fingers.’* The palmatifid leaves of this sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) are …

Tussock: A tuft or clump of grasses or sedges.* Tussocks of grasses blowing in the breeze are a mainstay of the autumn garden. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: …