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Flora of North America Glossary

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Term Synonyms Category Limitation Definition
…angular 2 = …gonal plane shape Having distinct, flat or curved sides of the number indicated by the prefix; as in hexangular, triangular. See also …angled (…gonous), deltate.
anisocytic = cruciferous architecture stomate Having three subsidiary cells, one distinctly smaller than the others.
anisopetalous architecture flower, perianth, corolla Having petals unequal in size and/or shape.
anisophyllous architecture plant, axis Heterophyllous and bearing leaves of two or more distinct sizes or shapes on the same plants.
anisosepalous architecture flower, perianth, calyx Having sepals unequal in size and/or shape.
anisostemonous architecture flower, androecium Having stamens unequal in size and/or shape.
annual 1 duration plant, stem Normally living one year or less; growing, reproducing, and dying within one cycle of seasons.
annual 2 nominative plant Of annual duration.
annular = ring-shaped solid shape More or less evenly tubular in a closed circle; like a ring or doughnut.
annulus 1 pl. annuli STRUCTURE A small ring-like protrusion from the strobilar stalk near its base and below the lowermost sporangiophores, sometimes bearing small sporangia; esp. in Equisetum.
annulus 2 pl. annuli STRUCTURE A row of protruding specialized sporangial wall cells that extends upward from the base of the sporangium and over its apex, thus forming an incomplete circumferential ring; esp. in Polypodiophyta. The inner and radial walls of the annular cells are markedly thickened and the structure functions as a spore-releasing and -disseminating mechanism as a result of differential stresses developed within the mature sporangial wall upon desiccation.
anomocytic = ranunculaceous architecture stomate Lacking subsidiary cells.
anthela pl. anthelae nominative inflorescence A cyme with the main axis markedly shorter than the lateral axes, appearing generally paniculate when compound; esp. in Juncaceae.
anthelate architecture inflorescence Comprising one or more anthelae; esp. in Juncaceae.
anther STRUCTURE The fertile, loculate, pollen-bearing portion of a stamen, containing one, two, or four thecae (pollen sacs), when that portion is differentiated from and borne at the summit of a narrower supporting stalk (filament), or when such differentiation is deemed to have occurred in the evolutionary past with subsequent reduction of the filament (the anther then sessile and constituting the entirety of the stamen).
anther-bearing = antheriferous architecture floral structure Bearing anthers.
antheridium pl. antheridia STRUCTURE A male gametangium; a multicellular fertile organ of a mature gametophyte within which male gametes (antherozoids, spermatozoids) are produced and from which they are discharged, in some taxa forcibly, through a pore. Technically present but highly reduced and of no descriptive significance in Magnoliophyta and part of Pinophyta.
antheriferous = anther-bearing architecture floral structure Bearing anthers.
antherozoid = spermatozoid; < sperm STRUCTURE A motile male gamete, produced within an antheridium.
anthocarp = accessory fruit; > diclesium nominative fruit Simple or compound and including some tissue of non-ovarian origin (accessory tissue).
anticlinal orientation Perpendicular to some given plane of reference; applied especially to the plane of cell division when it is oriented at right angles to the generalized plane of the structural surface.
antipetalous insertion equivalent floral structures Each inserted directly above or below a petal. In place of this term, the phrase "opposite the petals" is often used, but that contradicts the sense of opposite as otherwise employed (arrangement of lateral structures along an axis) and should be avoided.
antipetalous position equivalent floral structures Each inserted directly above or below a petal. In place of this term, the phrase "opposite the petals" is often used, but that contradicts the sense of opposite as otherwise employed (arrangement of lateral structures along an axis) and should be avoided.
antisepalous insertion equivalent floral structures Each inserted directly above or below a sepal. In place of this term, the phrase "opposite the sepals" is often used, but that contradicts the sense of opposite as otherwise employed (arrangement of lateral structures along an axis) and should be avoided.
antisepalous position equivalent floral structures Each inserted directly above or below a sepal. In place of this term, the phrase "opposite the sepals" is often used, but that contradicts the sense of opposite as otherwise employed (arrangement of lateral structures along an axis) and should be avoided.
Displaying 101-125 of 2673