Word of the Week

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 …

Galochrous: Milk-white in colour. Galanthus (snowdrops) are blooming in the garden. The genus name Galanthus comes from Greek gala, milk + anthos, flower. Allaby, M. (2006). A dictionary of plant sciences (Revised ed.). …

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 …