Flora of North America Glossary

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Term Synonyms Category Limitation Definition
eared = auriculate base laminar structure Having two small, rounded, lateral lobes, one to either side, that lie in more or less the same plane as the remainder of the lamina.
early-maturing = precocious maturation structure Maturing early in the growing season, or early relative to the developmental progress of its context.
ear-shaped = auriform solid shape Resembling a mammalian outer ear.
eccentric position Having a center or axis of symmetry not coincident with that of the context of reference.
echinate = spinose, spiny architecture Bearing spines.
egg-shaped 1 = ovate plane shape Elongate and wholly convex, widest near a bluntly rounded base and attenuate to a narrower rounded apex; like the lateral outline of a fowl egg. See also obovate.
egg-shaped 2 = ovoid solid shape Transversely circular, broadest near a bluntly rounded base, and convexly attenuate to a narrower rounded apex; like a fowl egg. See also obovoid.
eglandular = glandless architecture Lacking glands.
eight-… = octa… prefix Indicating presence of or constitution by eight entities of the type denoted by the term's stem; as in eight-carpelled, eight-flowered, eight-stamened.
elaiosome STRUCTURE A fleshy outgrowth from the seed coat (testa) that contains a high proportion of oil, usually attracting ants for dispersal.
elaminate architecture foliaceous structure Lacking an expanded, more or less planate, distal portion (lamina or blade).
elastic texture Resiliently deformable with no loss of structural integrity.
elastoviscin = viscin SUBSTANCE A sticky, elastic material, especially that forming the threads that sometimes connect pollen grains.
elater 1 STRUCTURE An elongate cell with a helical, hygroscopic thickening in its wall, contained within a sporangium, expanding and contracting with changes in humidity and aiding dispersal of the spores; esp. in Hepaticae.
elater 2 STRUCTURE An elongate, flattened, hygroscopic enation from a spore, straightening upon desiccation and aiding transport by air; esp. in Equisetaceae.
eleven-… = endeca… prefix Indicating presence of or constitution by eleven entities of the type denoted by the term's stem; as in eleven-carpelled, eleven-leafleted, eleven-stamened.
ellipsoid(al) solid shape Elliptic in any median longitudinal section; elongate, transversely circular, broadest at the middle, and symmetrically convex-attenuate to rounded ends. See also oblong.
elliptic(al) 1 arrangement bundle scars Forming an ellipse
elliptic(al) 2 = oval plane shape Elongate, widest at the middle, and symmetrically convex-attenuate to rounded ends. See also oblong.
elongate plane shape Longer in one dimension than in any other.
elongate solid shape Longer in one dimension than in any other.
emarginate = notched apex laminar structure Having a relatively small, acute, distal sinus.
emargination = notch FEATURE A relatively small, acute sinus at the distal end of a laminar structure.
embryo STRUCTURE The rudimentary spermatophyte contained within a viable seed.
embryo sac < megagametophyte STRUCTURE The multinucleate generative cell of an ovule, within which fertilization and zygote formation occur; resulting from meiotic division of a megaspore mother cell within the nucellus, and thus genetically haploid; its contents generally considered to represent an evolutionarily reduced gametophyte.
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