Word of the Week

Ligule: The membranous appendage arising from the inner surface of the leaf at the junction with the leaf sheath in many grasses and some sedges.* In grasses, the ligule is …

Rhizome: An underground, usually horizontal stem, such as that of ginger.* Irises grow from horizontal rhizomes that look much like pieces of ginger. Though they look a lot like ginger, …

Cyathium: The inflorescence in the genus Euphorbia, consisting of a cup-like involucre containing a single pistil and male flowers with a single stamen.* *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification …

Coriaceous: Having a leathery texture.* For example, the leaves of rhododendrons. *Allaby, M. (2006). A dictionary of plant sciences (Revised ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bifid: Deeply two-cleft or two-lobed, usually from the tip.* The petals of this snow-in-summer (Cerastium) are bifid. Each one has a deep cleft at the tip. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. …

Volute: Rolled up.* For example, the new spring shoots of hostas. *Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd ed.). Spring Lake: Spring Lake Publishing.

Pistil: The female reproductive organ of a flower, typically consisting of a stigma, style, and ovary.* The pistil of this tulip is protruding from the centre of the flower, surrounded …

Stamen: The male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an anther and a filament.* This Rhododendron dauricum ‘Arctic Pearl’ flower has 10 stamens surrounded by the petals which is …

Imbibition: The adsorption of liquid, usually water, into the ultramicroscopic spaces or pores found in materials such as cellulose, pectin, and cytoplasmic proteins in seeds.* When you put dry seeds …