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Flora of North America Glossary

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Term Synonyms Category Limitation Definition
clawed = unguiculate plane shape l Having an abruptly much narrower proximal portion (claw or unguis), itself of variable shape but usually attenuate toward the base; esp. petals.
…cleft ? …fid, …lobate, …lobed, …parted, …partite, …segmented plane shape Having the number of lobes, divisions or segments indicated by the prefix; as in three-cleft.
…cleft ? …fid, …lobate, …lobed, …parted, …partite, …segmented solid shape Having the number of lobes, divisions or segments indicated by the prefix; as in three-cleft.
cleft ? dissected, divided, lobate, lobed, parted, partite, segmented plane shape Having two or more component sectors or peripheral protrusions that are delimited by concavities in the margin or surface and that are not proximally distinct from the remainder of the whole. The meanings of this term and its approximate synonyms sometimes have been supposed to differ according to the depth of the delimiting concavities relative to the midline or midpoint of the overall structure, and/or to the shape or proportions of the protusions or sectors; however, there has been little consistency in the applications of the various terms according to such distinctions, which are ones only of degree and are necessarily arbitrary in any case. In general usage, these terms differ only indistinctly and connotatively: cleft, lobed (or lobate), parted (or partite) and segmented tend to connote fewer protrusions or sectors; lobate usually connotes as well a generally rounded shape; dissected tends to connote more numerous sectors that are elongate and angular. See also cut (incised, lacerate, torn), laciniate (slashed).
cleft ? dissected, divided, lobate, lobed, parted, partite, segmented solid shape Having two or more component sectors or peripheral protrusions that are delimited by concavities in the margin or surface and that are not proximally distinct from the remainder of the whole. The meanings of this term and its approximate synonyms sometimes have been supposed to differ according to the depth of the delimiting concavities relative to the midline or midpoint of the overall structure, and/or to the shape or proportions of the protusions or sectors; however, there has been little consistency in the applications of the various terms according to such distinctions, which are ones only of degree and are necessarily arbitrary in any case. In general usage, these terms differ only indistinctly and connotatively: cleft, lobed (or lobate), parted (or partite) and segmented tend to connote fewer protrusions or sectors; lobate usually connotes as well a generally rounded shape; dissected tends to connote more numerous sectors that are elongate and angular. See also cut (incised, lacerate, torn), laciniate (slashed).
cleistogamous reproduction flower Having the perianth remaining closed through anthesis, preventing deposit of pollen from other flowers, thus only self-pollination possible.
climbing = scandent habit plant, axis Ascending by means of special structures (e.g., tendrils) or growth patterns (e.g., twining) that enable purchase on and support by other plants or objects.
climbing root < aerial root STRUCTURE An aerial, usually adventitious root that, by some means, serves to anchor a climbing shoot portion to the structure(s) that support(s) it above ground level.
climbing-rooted < aerial-rooted architecture plant, structure Bearing climbing roots.
clinandrium pl. clinandria FEATURE The cavity in a floral column (gynostemium) within which the anthers are borne.
close = approximate arrangement Disposed relatively near to one another.
cloying odor Sickeningly sweet.
club-shaped = clavate solid shape Elongate and basically round in transverse section, the diameter greatest at or near a blunt apex, thence attenuate toward the base, the degree of taper greatest between the middle and the upper quarter.
clustered 1 arrangement Disposed in one or more aggregates, the members of each inserted close together, thence widely divergent from one another.
clustered 2 = gregarious habit plants Growing in loose aggretations. See also cespitose.
coalescent fusion equivalent and/or dissimilar structures Partially and irregularly coherent and/or adherent.
coating CHARACTER Exudate that covers the surface proper. See also indumentum (vesture), pubescence.
cobwebby = arachnoid pubescence Of fairly sparse, fine, white, loosely tangled, capillate trichomes.
coccus pl. cocci = mericarp STRUCTURE One of the segments of a dehisced schizocarp; usually one-seeded and itself indehiscent.
cochlear aestivation Imbricate with one member larger than and exterior to the others, parallel to one that is internal to all the others, strongly incurved, and enclosing the others.
cochleate = snail-shell-shaped solid shape Relatively broad and short, basically round in transverse section, resembling a rapidly tapering spire overall, the exterior helically convoluted; like a snail shell.
coenocarp = infructescence (not recommended), multiple fruit, syncarp; > fig, syconium nominative fruit Compound and derived from the connate or coherent ovaries and accessory tissue(s), if any, of two or more adjacent flowers.
coetaneous maturation dissimilar structures Maturing concurrently. This adjective is frequently used to mean contemporary maturation of leaves and flowers, but without actually stipulating that those are the structures involved. Such usage is erroneous according to the construction and literal meaning of the term, which properly applies to structures, not to the taxon or plant. See also synanthous.
coherent fusion equivalent structures Joined superficially, with no significant histological continuity.
coleorhiza STRUCTURE A sheath-like structure enclosing the radicle (embryonic root) in an embryo; esp. in Poaceae (Gramineae).
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