Glossary

Some botanical terms may mystify even quite knowledgeable readers. This glossary covers most terms commonly used in describing palms and cycads.

Abaxial

Facing away from that which holds it. e.g., underside of a leaf.

Bifid

Forked or split into two parts. Often used to describe the apex of a leaf.

Bipinnate

Having doubly pinnate leaflets. Caryota are the only palms that have bipinnate leaves.

Bract

A modified leaf or leaflike part just below and protecting an inflorescence.

Caudex

Trunk-like growth axis.

Costapalmate

A palmate-type leaf where the petiole extends into the leaf blades so they donít radiate from a single source.

Deciduous

Falling off or shedding of any plant part, usually leaves.

Dehiscing

Shedding, as in the release of pollen from the sporangia.

Dioecious

Having male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another plant of the same species.

Genus

The classification lower than a family and higher than a species. For example in Caryota ochlandra, Caryota is the genus, and ochlandra is the species. Both the genus and species are to be written in italics.

Glaucous

Displaying a usually whitish to bluish waxy or powdery substance that is easily rubbed away with the hand.

Hilum

The scar on a seed marking the place where it was once attached to the seed vessel.

Indumentum

A covering of fine hair or scales.

Inflorescence

Stem of flowers.

Infructescence

The fruiting stage of the inflorescence, once the flowers have turned to fruit.

Leaflet

The individual segment of a pinnate leaf.

Monocarpic

A plant that dies after flowering and bearing fruit.

Monoecious

Having separate male flowers and female flowers on the same plant.

Monotypic

A genus with a single species.

Palmate

Leaves that have the leaflets radiating from a single point.

Petiole

The stem of a leaf, from its base to where the leaflets begin.

Pinnate

Often called featherlike, leaflets growing from the rachis, often opposite each other in a flat plane or at angles to create a plumose effect.

Plumose

Often used to describe pinnate leaves that are 'bushy' in appearance, having leaflets not in a flat plane.

Proximal

The end of something (e.g., a leaflet), closest to its attachment to another (e.g., the rachis).

Rachis

The part of the stem that holds the leaflets.

Radicle

In most seeds, the radicle is the first structure to emerge on germination. The first root.

Ramenta

Elongated, ragged edged, usually thin scales.

Remote Germination

Where the seed sends down a runner from which the roots and first leaf grow.

Tomentum

Short matted hair that appears on many plants as reddish brown or white fuzz that is easily wiped away with a hand.

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	Glossary Some botanical terms may mystify even quite knowledgeable readers. This glossary covers most terms commonly used in describing palms and cycads. Abaxial Facing away from that which holds it. e.g., underside of a leaf. Bifid Forked or split into two parts. Often used to describe the apex of a leaf. Bipinnate Having doubly pinnate leaflets. Caryota are the only palms that have bipinnate leaves. Bract A modified leaf or leaflike part just below and protecting an inflorescence. Caudex Trunk-like growth axis. Costapalmate A palmate-type leaf where the petiole extends into the leaf blades so they donít radiate from a single source. Deciduous Falling off or shedding of any plant part, usually leaves. Dehiscing Shedding, as in the release of pollen from the sporangia. Dioecious Having male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another plant of the same species. Genus The classification lower than a family and higher than a species. For example in Caryota ochlandra, Caryota is the genus, and ochlandra is the species. Both the genus and species are to be written in italics. Glaucous Displaying a usually whitish to bluish waxy or powdery substance that is easily rubbed away with the hand. Hilum The scar on a seed marking the place where it was once attached to the seed vessel. Indumentum A covering of fine hair or scales. Inflorescence Stem of flowers. Infructescence The fruiting stage of the inflorescence, once the flowers have turned to fruit. Leaflet The individual segment of a pinnate leaf. Monocarpic A plant that dies after flowering and bearing fruit. Monoecious Having separate male flowers and female flowers on the same plant. Monotypic A genus with a single species. Palmate Leaves that have the leaflets radiating from a single point. Petiole The stem of a leaf, from its base to where the leaflets begin. Pinnate Often called featherlike, leaflets growing from the rachis, often opposite each other in a flat plane or at angles to create a plumose effect. Plumose Often used to describe pinnate leaves that are 'bushy' in appearance, having leaflets not in a flat plane. Proximal The end of something (e.g., a leaflet), closest to its attachment to another (e.g., the rachis). Rachis The part of the stem that holds the leaflets. Radicle In most seeds, the radicle is the first structure to emerge on germination. The first root. Ramenta Elongated, ragged edged, usually thin scales. Remote Germination Where the seed sends down a runner from which the roots and first leaf grow. Tomentum Short matted hair that appears on many plants as reddish brown or white fuzz that is easily wiped away with a hand.	Site sponsored by...