Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PLANT
SYSTEMATICS
Copyright 1998, by the authors. All rights reserved
For readers new to Vascular Plant Systematics and its glossary, the best place to
start is the Beginning of the chapter, explaining the authors' original intent of the
classified glossary, as well as a summary of the chapter organization, describing
the four sections, A, B, C, and D. The next section is the System of
Characterization , which is essentially the index to the four sections within the
Chapter. The final introductory section, the Character Classification, defines the
general characters and character states as outlined in the System of
Characterization.
Those familiar with the Chapter and its contents will be able to move immediately
to a give section by means of the selectable index in the frame at the left. This
index indicates the major sections and subsections in the chapter and speeds the
selection of a given topic. When selected, the result will be the whole page on
which the topic is found, thus providing more of the context of the topic and its
associated terms. One may also use the Query Form to determine the definition
and/or usage of a single term at a time. This query form is to be used primarily for
individual terms, whole or partial words. It will return every usage of the term and
its accompanying definition found in the chapter, and if available, it will link to the
appropriate illustration of the term. The query engine used in this Glossary
is HTGREP v. 2.4 whose capabilities are gratefully acknowledged.
We welcome feedback from all who encounter this glossary. It is possible that in
time, more of the Vascular Plant Systematics will find its way to this Web Site in
similar fashion. Please let us know of your opinions, comments, suggestions, and
additions.
Jimmy R. Massey
James C. Murphy
1996
Phytography deals with the descriptive terminology of plants and their component
parts for the purpose of providing an accurate and complete vocabulary for
description, identification, and classification. Phytographic studies should (1)
provide the student with a vocabulary for intelligent communication about plants
and an understanding of the use of relative terms; and (2) help the student observe
plants more critically and describe them more precisely. The morphological and
developmental features of angiosperms form the core of the terms treated in this
chapter.
The classification of terminology herein represents basically a compromise
between (1) the traditional approaches to phytography, (2) effective teachinglearning organization, and (3) ordering of characters and character states for
increased precision in comparative studies and data banking. The use of types and
structural types conforms fairly closely to accepted practice. Major organs and
their component parts are basic morphology. The subclassifications, as in fruit
types and arrangement, have been made for greater learning effectiveness and for
compliance with traditional usage. The treatment of position-arrangement, shapes,
and surface have been ordered or ranked to make those classifications comparative.
The ratios and fractions of the subsection on shapes, if applied, will make the
relative terms or character states more consistent in application.
Section A is organized basically as the Plant and its major structures (I-XII) which
are subclassified into component parts (A), types (B), and structural types (C).
Plant types are based on habit; root, stem, leaf, flower, and inflorescence types are
based primarily on position and/or arrangement; and the perianth, androecium, and
gynoecium types are based on fusion of parts. Structural types includes typical and
specialized structures. Section B is organized as character classes (I-XII) which are
subclassified as numerous characters. Section C and Section Dare glossaries of
terms pertinent to gymnosperms and lower vascular plants. The index includes all
terms presented in the chapter. Unspecialized and specialized structures are
included in the structural type classification for completeness of treatment. All
terms within a subject are alphabetized except those in shape where it was deemed
best to group related terms. Adjectives or noun forms, usually not both, are used
throughout a classification. Some classifications knowingly have incomplete
vocabularies but instructions are included for the determinations of the meanings
of many additional terms.
The morphological glossary is based primarily upon those found in Lawrence
(1951), Stearn (1966) , Johnson (1931) , Featherley (1954) , Correll and Johnston
(1971) , Swartz (1971) , and Porter et al. (1973) . Some classifications and
definitions of terms are based on special papers which are cited in the literature. A
few new terms for perianth position, gynoecial and staminal types are introduced .
Phytography, as an ordered and precise subject, is still in a rather primitive state.
"Different terms are often applied to the same character state, and, conversely the
same term is used for many character states" (Porter et al., 1973) . Seemingly there
are too many terms in this chapter, but a real need exists for even more, with
precise definition and application. Terms represent concepts, or states of concepts.
Generalized concepts provide the basis of classification. Improvement is needed
throughout the term-concept-classification system to advance phytography and
taxonomy.
System of Characterization
Section A. STRUCTURAL PARTS AND TYPES
XII. Seeds and Seedlings - A. Seed Parts. B. Seed Types. C. Embryo Parts. D.
Embryo Types. E. Aril Structural Types. F. Seedling Parts. G. Seedling Types.
Section B. GENERAL CHARACTERS AND CHARACTER STATES
CHARACTER CLASSIFICATION
The general groups of characters I-XII are considered character classes which
include several types of characters each of which is defined. The states of each
character are arranged by order of importance and defined in Section B of this
chapter. This arrangement of character states by character and ordering or ranking
of types of character within a character class is an attempt to make this
classification comparative and precise. See Chapter 5 for basic definitions of
characters and kinds of characters as well as types of evidence.
V. SEX
1. Flower. Sexual condition of the individual flower (See Section B V A).
2. Inflorescence. Arrangement of flowers by sexual condition within an
inflorescence; or total diversity of flower sexual conditions within an
inflorescence (See Section B V B).
3. Plant. Total diversity of flower sexual conditions within a single plant (See
Section B V C).
4. Population or Species. Total diversity of flower sexual conditions within a
population (See Section B V C).
IX. PATTERNS
1. Symmetry. Correspondence of parts in size, form and arrangement on
opposite sides of a plane, line, or point (See Section B IX A).
2. Arrangement Systems. Total disposition of organs with respect to each
other based on the angle of divergence between succeeding similar parts
(See Section B IX B).
3. Branching Patterns. Position of branches on the main axis and the
arrangement of the lateral branches (See Section B IX C).
XI. COLORATION
1. Standard. Color determinations based on accepted color charts and codes
(See Section B XI A).
2. Distribution. Patterns of color variegation on an organ or parts (See Section
B XI B).
XII. GENERAL
1. General. Descriptors applicable to any character.
PHYTOGRAPHIC LITERATURE
A. Plant Parts
Herb. A usually low, soft, or coarse plant with annual aboveground stems.
Shrub. A much-branched woody perennial plant usually without a single trunk.
Tree. A tall, woody perennial plant usually with a single trunk.
Vine or Liana. An elongate, weak-stemmed, often climbing annual or perennial
plant, with herbaceous or woody texture.
[ NEXT SUBSECTION ]
A. Root Parts
Secondary Root. Lateral root with root cap and hairs, derived from the pericycle.
B. Root Types
(Classification based on position and origin)
[A. Stem Parts] [B. Stem Types] [C. Stem Structural Types]
Chambered Pith. Solid core of pith cells absent, only distinct partitions
present.
Continuous Pith. With solid core of parenchyma or pith cells.
Diaphragmed Pith. With solid core of pith cells and distinct partitions.
Wood. Xylem consisting of vessels and/or tracheids, fibers, and parenchyma cells.
Annual Ring. Usually one year's growth of wood; spring and summer wood.
Diffuse Porous Wood. Annual rings with vessels or pores more or less
evenly distributed.
Non-porous Wood. Annual rings with tracheids only, no vessels produced
in spring or summer wood.
Ring Porous Wood. Annual rings with vessels or pores usually in the spring
wood, in a well defined circular band.
B. Stem Types (Figure 6-2-1)
(Classification based on habit, direction of growth, or position)
A. Bud Parts
Flower. Contains flower primordia; will give rise to one or more flowers.
Leaf. Contains leaf and stem primordia; will give rise to branch with leaves.
Mixed. Contains flower, leaf, and stem primordia; will give rise to branch with
leaves and flower(s).
Naked. Shoot and/or flower primordia not surrounded by scales.
Protected. Shoot and/or flower primordia surrounded by scales.
A. Leaf Parts
Note: This classification is based on discrete segments of leaves or leaflets, but the
terms with "compound" are equally applicable to segments, divisions, etc. of any
structure with a blade; e.g., palmately divided, pinnately cleft, etc.
Actinomorphic. Flowers with radial symmetry and parts arranged at one level;
with definite numbers of parts and size; e.g., Anemone, Caltha.
Amorphic or Paleomorphic. Flowers without symmetry; usually with an indefinite
number of stamens and carpels, and usually subtended by bracts or discolored
upper leaves; e.g.,Salix discolor, Echinops ritro. (mostly fossil forms).
Haplomorphic. Flowers with parts spirally arranged at a simple level in a
semispheric or hemispheric form; petals or tepals colored; parts numerous;
e.g., Nymphaea, Magnolia.
Pleomorphic. Actinomorphic with numbers of parts reduced; e.g., Tripogandra.
Stereomorphic. Flowers 3-dimensional with basically radial symmetry; parts many
or reduced, and usually regular; e.g., Narcissus, Aquilegia.
Zygomorphic. Flowers with bilateral symmetry; parts usually reduced in number
and irregular; e.g., Cypripedium, Salvia.
Anterior Lobes. The lobes away from axis, toward the subtending bract; abaxial
lobes.
Anterior Ridges, Lines, Grooves. The lines, grooves, ridges in or on the dorsal
side, abaxial, within the perianth.
Base. Bottom or lower portion.
Beard. A tuft, line or zone of trichomes.
Bristle. A stiff, strong trichome, as in the perianth of some members of the
Cyperaceae.
Callosity. A thickened, raised area, which is usually hard; a callus.
Carina. Keel.
Claw. The long, narrow petiole-like base of a sepal or petal.
Corona. A crown; any outgrowth between the stamens and corolla which may be
petaline or staminal in origin.
Dorsal Side. Back or abaxial side, or the lower side of a perianth part.
Faucal Area. The throat area.
Fringe. The modified margin of a petal, sepal, tepal or lip.
Hood. A cover-shaped perianth part, usually with a turned down margin.
Horn. A curved, pointed and hollow protuberance from the perianth.
Hypogynium. Perianth-like structure of bony scales subtending the ovary, as
in Scleria and other members of the Cyperaceae.
Keel. The two united petals of a papilionaceous flower; any structure ridged like
the bottom of a boat.
Corniculate. Horned.
Coronate. Tubular or flaring perianth or staminal outgrowth; petaloid appendage.
Cruciate. Four separate petals in cross form.
Cucullate. Hooded.
Galeate. Helmet-shaped, as one sepal in Aconitum.
Gibbous. Inflated on one side near the base.
Globose. Round.
Infundibular. Funnel-shaped.
Ligulate or Ray. Strap-shaped.
Papilionaceous. With large posterior petal (banner or standard) two lateral petals
(wings) and usually two connate lower petals (keel); as in the Fabaceae.
Personate. Two-lipped with the upper arched and the lower protruding into
corolla throat.
Rotate. Wheel-shaped, with short tube and wide limb at right angles to tube.
Saccate. Pouch-like.
Salverform. Trumpet-shaped. With slender tube and limb nearly at right angles to
tube.
Subglobose. Almost round or spherical.
Tubular. Cylindrical.
Unguiculate. Clawed.
Urceolate. Urn-shaped.
Ventricose. Inflated on one side near the middle.
A. Androecial Parts
Stamen. Male sporophyll within the flower; floral organ that bears pollen in
angiosperms.
Staminodium. Sterile stamen, may be modified as a nectary or petaloid structure.
Staminal Disc. A fleshy, elevated cushion formed from coalesced staminodia or
nectaries.
B. Androecial Types (Figure 6-7-2)
(Classification based primarily on fusion of parts)
Carpel. Female sporophyll within flower; floral organ that bears ovules in
angiosperms.
Carpopodium. Short, thick, pistillate stalk.
Locule. Ovary cavity.
Ovary. Ovule-bearing part of pistil.
Placenta. Ovule-bearing region of ovary wall.
Stigma. Pollen-receptive portion of pistil.
Stipe. Pistillate stalk.
Style. Attenuated, non-ovule-bearing portion of pistil between stigma and ovary.
Capitate. Head-like.
Clavate. Club-shaped.
Crested or Cristate. With a terminal ridge or tuft.
Decurrent. Elongate, extending downward.
Diffuse. Spread over a wide surface.
Discoid. Disc-like.
Fimbriate. Fringed.
Lineate. In lines, stigmatic surface linear.
Lobed. Divided into lobes.
Plumose. Feather-like.
Terete. Cylindrical and elongate.
F. Style Types (Figure 6-8-5)
(Classification based primarily on shape)
Petaloid. Petal-like.
Stylopodic. With a stylopodium or discoid base, as in the Apiaceae.
Terete. Cylindrical and elongate.
Tuberculate. With hard, swollen, persistent base or tubercle.
Umbraculate. Umbrella-shaped, as in Sarracenia.
G. Ovule Parts (Figure 6-8-2)
Amphitropous. With body bent or curved on both sides so that the micropyle is
near the medially attached funiculus.
Anatropous. With body completely inverted so that funiculus is attached basally
near adjoining micropyle area.
Campylotropous. With body bent or curved on one side so that micropyle is near
medially attached funiculus.
Hemianatropous or Hemitropous. With body half-inverted so that funiculus is
attached near middle with micropyle terminal and at right angles.
Orthotropous or Atropous. With straight body so that funicular attachment is at
one end and micropyle at other.
A. Fruit Parts
1. Simple Fruits
(Fruit derived from the ovary of a solitary pistil in a single flower)
a. Dry Indehiscent Fruit Types (Figure 6-9-1)
(Fruits that do not split open at maturity)
Achene. A one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with seed attached to fruit wall at
one point only, derived from a one-loculed superior ovary.
Bent. Foliate embryo with expanded and usually thick cotyledons in an axile
position bent upon the hypocotyl in a jacknife position.
Broad. Basal, globular or lenticular embryo in copious endosperm.
Capitate. More or less basal head-like or turbinate embryo in copious endosperm.
Dwarf. Axial embryo variable in size relative to seed, small to nearly total size of
seed; seeds 0.2 - 2 mm. long.
Folded. Foliate embryo with cotyledons usually thin and extensively expanded
and folded in various ways.
Investing. Axial embryo usually erect with thick cotyledons overlapping and
encasing the somewhat dwarfed hypocotyl; endosperm wanting or limited.
Lateral. Basal or baso-lateral embryo, discoid or lenticular, usually surrounded by
copious endosperm.
Linear. Axial embryo several times longer than broad, straight, curved or coiled;
cotyledons not expanded; endosperm present or absent.
Micro. Axial embryo in minute seeds, less than 0.2 mm. long; minute and
undifferentiated to almost total size of seed.
Peripheral. Peripheral embryo large and elongate, arcuate, annular, spirolobal, or
straight; cotyledons narrow or expanded; perisperm central or lateral.
Rudimentary. Basal, small nonperipheral embryo in small to large seed; relatively
undifferentiated; endosperm copious.
Spatulate. Foliate, erect embryo with variable cotyledons, thin to thick and
slightly expanded to broad.
E. Aril Structural Types and Selected Seed Surface Features
F. Seedling Parts
(Specialized parts only--adapted from Duke [1969])
Cryptocotylar or Hypogeous. With the cotyledons remaining inside the seed; seed
usually remaining below ground
Phanerocotylar or Epigeous. With the cotyledons emergent from seed, usually
appearing above ground.
[ PREVIOUS SUBSECTION ]
1. General
Aerial or Epigeous. Above the ground or water; in the air.
Emergent. With part(s) of plant aerial and part(s) submersed; rising out of the
water above the surface.
Epipetric. Upon rock.
Epiphytic. Upon another plant.
Floating. Upon the surface of the water.
1. General
Apical or Terminal. At the top, tip, or end of a structure.
Basal or Radical. At the bottom or base of a structure.
Continuous. Basal, lateral, and terminal.
Discontinuous. Basal and lateral, basal and terminal, or lateral and terminal; not
continuous.
Lateral or Axillary. On the side of a structure or at the nodes of the axis.
2. Special
(Classification based on positional terms usually applicable to individual
parts)
a. Androecial Position
(See Perianth and Stamen Position, h. and k.)
b. Branch Position
Acrocaulous. With terminal branches.
Basicaulous. With basal branches.
Caulous. With branches more or less evenly spaced along trunk.
Subacrocaulous. With branches at or near tip of main stem.
Subbasicaulous. With branches at or near base of main stem.
Zonocaulous. With branches intermittently spaced along main stem.
c. Cotyledon Position (Figure 6-12-3)
Accumbent or Pleurorhizal. Reclinate with cotyledon edges against hypocotyl.
Incumbent or Notorhizal. Reclinate with sides of cotyledons against hypocotyl.
d. Flower, Fruit, Inflorescence, Infructescence Position
Acrocaulous. At the tip of the stem.
Amphiflorous, Amphicarpous. Flowers or fruits above and below ground, as
in Amphicarpum.
Axillary. In axil of leaf.
Basicaulous. Near base of stem.
Cauline or Caulous. On old woody stem.
Epiphyllous. From a phylloclad or peculiar bract, as in Tilia.
Geoflorous, Geocarpous. Flowers or fruits below ground, as in Amphicarpum.
Infrafoliar. On the stem below the leaves, as in the Arecaceae.
Interfoliar. On the stem between the leaves, as in the Arecaceae.
Leaf-opposed. On stem opposite the base of the leaf, as in Alchemilla.
Epigyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals, stamens are attached to the
floral tube above the ovary with the ovary adnate to the tube or hypanthium.
Epihyperigyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals, stamens are attached to
the floral tube or hypanthium surrounding the ovary; a combination perigyny and
partly inferior ovary.
Epihypogyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals, stamens are attached
about half-way from the base of the ovary to the partly adnate hypanthium tube;
half-inferior insertion of parts.
Epiperigyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals, stamens are attached to
the floral or hypanthium cup above the ovary with the lower part of the
hypanthium completely adnate to the ovary.
Hypanepigyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals, stamens are attached to
the elongate floral tube or hypanthium above the inferior ovary, as in Oenothera.
Hypogyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals, stamens are attached below
the ovary.
Perigyny. The condition in which the sepals, petals, stamens are attached to the
floral tube or hypanthium surrounding the ovary with the tube or hypanthium
free from the ovary.
i. Placenta Position (Placentation) (Figure 6-11-2)
Axile. With the placentae along the central axis in a compound ovary with septa.
Basal. With the placenta at the base of the ovary.
Free-central. With the placenta along the central axis in a compound ovary
without septa.
Laminate. With the placenta over the inner surface of the ovary wall.
Marginal or Ventral. With the placenta along the margin of the simple ovary.
Parietal. With the placentae on the wall or intruding partitions of a unilocular
compound ovary.
Pendulous, Apical, or Suspended. With the placenta at the top of the ovary.
j. Radicle Position
2. Special
(Classification based on arrangement with special terms applicable to individual plant
parts)
a. Stamen Arrangement (Figure 6-7-2)
(See General Arrangement for additional terms)
Abaxial. Away from the axis; the lower surface of the leaf; dorsal.
Adaxial. Next to the axis; facing the stem; ventral.
Apical. At or near the tip.
Basal. At or near the bottom.
Central. In the middle or middle plane of a structure.
Circumferential. At or near the circumference; surrounding a rounded structure.
Distal. Away from the point of origin or attachment.
Dorsal. Pertaining to the surface most distant from the axis; back of an outer face
of organ; lower side of leaf; abaxial.
Marginal. Pertaining to the border or edge.
Medial. Upon or along the longitudinal axis.
Peripheral. On the outer surface or edge.
Proximal. Near the point of origin or attachment.
Subbasal. Near the base.
Subterminal. Near the apex.
Ventral. Pertaining to the surface nearest the axis; inner face of an organ; the
upper surface of the leaf; adaxial.
2. Special
(Selected terms for location on a structure. The meanings of many additional terms can be
determined from the positional prefixes and word stems of plant organs and parts in
Chapter 4.)
Alternate. Having structure in two rows or series so that the inner structure has
its margins overlapped by a margin from each adjacent outer structure.
Cochleate. Having one hollow or helmet-shaped structure which encloses or
covers the others.
Contorted. Having several struc tures in a whorl or close spiral with one margin
covering the margin of an adjacent structure.
Convolute. Having one leaf or perianth part rolled in another, usually twisted
apically.
Imbricate. Having margins overlapping.
Induplicate. Having margins bent inward and touching margin of adjacent
structure.
Quincuncial. Having five structures, two of which are exterior, two interior, and a
fifth with one margin covering interior structure and other margin covered by that
of one of the exterior structures.
Valvate. Having margins of adjacent structures touching at edges only.
Vexillate. Having one structure larger than others which is folded over smaller
enclosed structures.
2. Cotyledon Ptyxis (Figure 6-12-2)
(Classification based on position of cotyledons in seed)
Circinate. With lamina rolled from apex to base with apex in center of coil.
Conduplicate. With lamina folded once adaxially along midrib or midvein.
Convolute. With one lamina enrolled in another lamina.
Corrugate. With lamina irregularly folded in all directions, wrinkled.
Curvative or arcuate. With lamina folded transversely into an arc.
Implicate. With both lamina margins folded sharply inward.
Inclinate. With lamina folded or curved transversely near the apex.
Involute. With lamina margins enrolled adaxially.
Planate or Plain. With lamina flat, without folds or rolls.
Plicate. With many longitudinal folds in lamina.
Reclinate. With lamina folded or curved backwards from near its base so that
embryonic blade is parallel to its petiole, hypocotyl, or stem.
[ NEXT SUBSECTION ]
A. Number
(Pertains to selected terms dealing with numbers. See number prefixes and word stems
in Chapter 4 for meanings of additional terms.)
Ancipital. Two-edged.
Bicarpellate. Two-carpelled.
Bidentate. Two-toothed.
Biflorous. Two-flowered.
Bifoliate. Two-leaved.
Bilabiate. Two-lipped.
Bilocular. Two-locular.
Binate. Twinned.
Biseriate. Two-rowed; in two series.
Bisexual. Both sexes in same flower (monoclinous, perfect).
Diadelphous. With two groups of stamens connate by their filaments.
Diandrous. With two stamens per flower.
Polyandrous. Many-stamened.
Polycarpellate. Many-carpellate.
Polycephalous. Many-headed, as in composites.
Polydelphous. With several groups of stamens connate by their filaments.
Tetrad. Pollen grains in clusters of four.
Tetragonal. Four-angled.
Tetrahedral. Having the form of a tetrahedron.
Tetralocular. Four-locular.
Tetrandrous. With four stamens.
Tricarpellate. Three-carpellate.
Triflorous. Three-flowered.
Trifoliate. Three-leaved.
Trifoliolate. With three leaflets.
Trigonous. Three-angled.
Triquetrous. Three-angled with the sides usually concave.
Unilocular. One-locular.
Uniseriate. One-rowed; in one series.
Unisexual. With only one sex in each flower.
B. Size
(Selected terms related to size and frequently shape. See size prefixes and word stems of
organs and parts in Chapter 4 for meanings of additional terms.)
E. Fusion
(Pertains to fusion of members within and betwen whorls of floral parts)
1. General
(Based on Porter et al., [1973])
Adherent. With unlike parts of organs joined, but only superficially and without
actual histological continuity.
Adnate. With unlike parts or organs integrally fused to one another with
histological continuity.
Coalesced. With like or unlike parts or organs incompletely separated; partially
fused in a more or less irregular fashion.
Coherent. With like parts or organs joined, but only superficially and without
actual histological continuity.
Connate. With like parts or organs integrally fused to one another with
histological continuity.
Contiguous. Touching but not adnate, connate, adherent, or coherent.
Distinct. With like parts or organs unjoined and separate from one another.
Fasciated. Unnaturally and often monstrously connate or adnate, the coalesced
parts often unnaturally proliferated in size and/ or number; e.g., inflorescence
of Celosia.
Free. Unlike parts or organs unjoined and separate from one another.
2. Special
(Selected terms pertaining to fusion)
Anthocarpous. Having a body of combined floral and fruit parts, as in multiple
fruits.
Apocarpous. With separate carpels.
Apopetalous or Choripetalous. With separate petals.
Aposepalous or Chorisepalous. With separate sepals.
Apostemonous. With separate stamens.
B. Oblong. With widest axis at midpoint of structure and with margins essentially
parallel.
Plane L/W
a. Linear more than 12:1
Solid L/D
c. Oblong 2:1-3:2
d. Widely oblong 6: 5
c. Oblong 2:1-3:2
e. Square 1:1
e. Cubical 1:1
C. Ovate. With widest axis below middle and with margins symmetrically curved;
egg-shaped.
Plane L/W
Solid L/D
a. Lanceolate more than 6:1-3:1
a. Lanceoloid more than 6:1-3:1
b. Ovate 2:1-3:2
b. Ovoid 2:1-3:2
c. Widely ovate 6:5
c. Broadly ovoid 6:5
d. Very widely ovate 1:1
d. Very broadly ovoid 1:1
e. Widely depressed ovate 5:6
e. Broadly depressed ovoid 5:6
f. Depressed ovate 2:3-1:2
f. Depressed ovoid 2:3-1:2
E. Rhombic. With widest axis at midpoint of structure, and with straight margins;
elliptic but margins straight and middle angled.
Plane L/W
Solid L/D
b. Rhombic 2:1-3:2
b. Rhomboid 2:1-3:2
F. Trullate. With widest axis below middle and with straight margins; ovate but
margins straight and angled below middle, trowel-shaped.
Plane L/W
Solid L/D
a. Narrowly trullate more than 6:1-3:1
a. Narrowly trulloid more than 6:1-3:1
b. Trullate 2:1-3:2
b. Trulloid 2:1-3:2
c. Widely trullate 6:5
c. Broadly trulloid 6:5
d. Very widely trullate 1:1
d. Very broadly trulloid l:l
e. Widely depressed trullate 5:6
e. Broadly depressed trulloid 5:6
f. Transversely depressed trullate 2:3-1:2
f. Transversely depressed trulloid 2:3-1:2
Solid L/D
b. Obtrullate 3:2-2:1
b. Obtrulloid 3:2-2:1
c. Cordiform. Heart-shaped.
d. Dimidiate. Inequilateral with one-half wholly or nearly wanting.
e. Falcate. Scimitar-shaped.
f. Filiform. Threadlike, usually flexuous .
g. Hastiform. Triangular with two flaring basal lobes.
h. Lunate. Crescent-shaped, with acute ends.
i. Lyrate. Lyre-shaped; pinnatifid with large terminal lobe and smaller lower lobes.
j. Obcordiform. Inversely cordiform.
k. Panduriform. Fiddle-shaped; obovate with sinus or indentation on each side
near base and with two small basal lobes.
1. Peltiform. Rounded with petiole attached to center of blade or apparently to
laminar tissue.
m. Rectangular. Box-shaped, longer than wide.
n. Reniform. Kidney-shaped, with shallow sinus and widely rounded margins.
o. Runcinate. Oblanceolate with lacerate to parted margins.
p. Sagittiform. Triangular-ovate with two straight or slightly incurved basal lobes.
q. Spathulate or Spatulate. Oblong or obovate apically with a long attenuate
base.
3. Special Solid Figures (Figure 6-14-1)
(See calyx, corolla, and perianth types for special 3-dimensional shapes, Sect. A, VIII)
g. Clavate. Club-shaped.
h. Cochleate. Snail-shaped.
i. Compressed or Complanate. Flattened.
j. Conical. Having figure of true cone.
k. Coroniform. Crown-shaped.
1. Cotyliform. Cup-shaped.
m. Crateriform. Shallow cup-shaped as the involucre of some species of Quercus.
n. Cruciform or Cruciate. Cross-shaped.
o. Cylindric. Long-tubular.
p. Cymbiform. Boat-shaped.
q. Discoid. Orbicular with convex faces.
r. Dolabriform. Axe-shaped.
s. Excentric. One-sided; off-center.
t. Falcate or Seculate. Sickle-shaped.
u. Fistulose. Hollow, as without pith.
v. Flabelliform. Fan-shaped.
w. Fusiform. Spindle-shaped; broadest in middle and tapering to each end.
x. Half-terete. Flat on one side, terete on other; semicircular in cross section.
y. Hippocrepiform. Horseshoe-shaped.
z. Lenticular. Biconvex, usually elongate and flattish.
aa. Lingulate. Tongue-shaped, plano-convex in cross section.
bb. Meniscoidal. Thin and concaveconvex.
cc. Napiform. Turnip-shaped.
dd. Navicular. Boat-shaped.
a. Truncate. Cut straight across; ending abruptly almost at right angles to midrib
or midvein.
b. Rounded. Margins and apex forming a smooth arc.
c. Obtuse. Margins straight to convex, forming a terminal angle more than 90 .
d. Acute (Base cuneate). Margins straight to convex forming a terminal angle 45 90 .
e. Acuminate (Base narrowly cuneate). Margins straight to convex forming a
terminal angle of less than 45 .
f. Caudate (Base attenuate). Acuminate with concave margins.
g. Hastate. Margins variable; lobe pointed; oriented outward or divergently in
relation to petiole or midrib.
h. Cuspidate. Acute but coriaceous and stiff.
i. Spinose or Pungent. Acuminate but coriaceous and stiff.
3. Apices with Midrib, Midvein or Vein Extension.
a. Apiculate. More than 3:1 l/w, usually slightly curled and flexuous.
b. Aristate. More than 3:1 l/w, usually prolonged, straight and stiff.
Note: For precison in margin description the type (as described below), the
symmetry of the individual tooth, the margins of the individual tooth, the apex of
the individual tooth, the type of sinus (rounded or angled), the number of teeth per
unit of margin measurement, the spacing (regular or irregular) of the teeth, the
nature of teeth (simple or compound in two or more size groups) should be
indicated or described.
1. Margin Types
a. Aculeate. Prickly.
b. Bicrenate or Doubly-crenate. With smaller rounded teeth on larger rounded
teeth.
c. Biserrate or Doubly-serrate. With sharply cut teeth on the margins of larger
sharply cut teeth.
d. Ciliate. With trichomes protruding from margins.
e. Cleft. Indentations or incisions cut 1/4-1/2 distance to midrib or midvein.
f. Crenate. Shallowly ascending round-toothed, or teeth obtuse; teeth cut less
than 1/8 way to midrib or midvein.
g. Crenulate. Diminutive of crenate, teeth cut to 1/16 distance to midrib or
midvein.
h. Crispate. Curled; margins divided and twisted in more than one plane.
i. Dentate. Margins with rounded or sharp, coarse teeth that point outwards at
right angles to midrib or midvein, cut 1/16 to 1/8 distance to midrib or midvein.
j. Denticulate. Diminutive of dentate, cut to 1/16 distance to midrib or midvein.
k. Divided. Indentations or incisions cut 3/4-almost completely to midrib or
midvein.
1. Entire. Without indentations or incisions on maigins; smooth.
m. Erose. Irregularly, shallowly toothed and/or lobed margins; appearing gnawed.
n. Filamentose or Filiferous. With coarse marginal fibers or threads.
Aciculate. Finely marked as with pin pricks, fine lines usually randomly arranged.
Alate. Winged.
Alveolate. Honey-combed.
Areolate. Divided into many angular or squarish spaces.
Bullate. Puckered or blistered.
Canaliculate. Longitudinally grooved, usually in relation to petioles or midribs.
Cancellate or Clathrate. Latticed.
Corrugate. Ridged.
Costate. Coarsely ribbed.
Fenestrate. With windowlike holes through the leaves or other structures.
Flexuous. Coarsely undulate with folds at right angles to long axis.
Foveolate. Pitted.
Plicate or Plaited. Fluted, longi tudinally folded.
Punctate. Covered with minute impressions or depressions.
Pustulate. With scattered blisterlike swellings.
Reticulate. Netted.
Ribbed. With longitudinal nerves.
Ringed. With old bud scale scar rings.
Rugose. Covered with coarse reticulate lines.
1. General
Acrodromous. With two or more primary or strongly developed secondary veins
diverging at or above the base of the blade and running in convergent arches
toward the apex over some or all of the blade length, the arches not basally
curved.
Actinodromous. With three or more primary veins diverging radially from a single
point at or above the base of the blade and running toward the margin, reaching
it or not.
Brochidodromous. With a single primary vein, the secondary veins not
terminating at the margin but joined together in a series of prominent upward
arches or marginal loops on each side of the primary vein.
Campylodromous. With several primary veins or their branches diverging at or
close to a single point and running in strongly developed, basally recurved arches
which converge toward the apex, reaching it or not.
Cladodromous. With a single primary vein, the secondary veins not terminating at
the margin and freely ramified toward it.
Craspedodromous, Mixed. With a single primary vein, some of the secondary
veins terminating at the margin and an approximately equal number otherwise.
Craspedodromous, Simple. With a single primary vein, all of the secondary veins
and their branches terminating at the margin.
Aculeate. Prickly.
Arachnoid. Cobwebby.
Barbed. With short, rigid reflexed bristles or processes.
Barbellate. Minutely barbed.
Bearded or Barbate. With long trichomes usually in a tuft, line or zone.
Bristly. Covered with stiff, strong trichomes.
Canescent or Incanous. Covered with dense, fine grayish-white trichomes.
Ciliate. With conspicuous marginal trichomes.
Ciliolate. With tiny or small marginal trichomes.
Comose. With a tuft of trichomes, usually apical.
Downy. Covered with short, weak, soft trichomes.
Floccose. Covered with dense, appressed trichomes in patches or tufts.
Glabrate. Without trichomes.
Glandular. Covered with secretory or excretory trichomes.
Glochidiate. With barbed trichomes, glochids, usually in tufts.
Hirsute. Covered with long, rather stiff trichomes.
Hirsutullous or Hirtellous. Minutely hirsute.
E. Texture
(Classification based on physical condition or consistency of leaves, scales, petals, fruits
and other parts)
Sclerous. Hard.
Spongy. Cellular; sponge-like.
Suberous. Corky.
Suffrutescent. Woody basally, herbaceous apically.
Woody. Hard and lignified.
Androdioecious. Some plants with staminate flowers and some with perfect
flowers.
Andromonoecious. Plant with staminate and perfect flowers.
Diclinous. Plant with imperfect flowers; stamens and carpels in separate flowers.
Dioecious. Plant with all flowers imperfect, but staminate and pistillate on
separate plants.
Female, Carpellate, or Pistillate. Plant with pistillate flowers only.
Gynodioecious. Some plants with perfect flowers and some with pistillate.
Gynomonoecious. Plant with pistillate and perfect flowers.
Hermaphroditic or Monoclinous. Plant with all flowers perfect.
Male or Staminate. Plant with staminate flowers only.
Monoecious. Plant with all flowers imperfect, but staminate and pistillate flowers
on same plant.
Polygamous. Plant with perfect and imperfect flowers.
Polygamo-dioecious. Plants dioecious, but with some perfect flowers on
staminate or pistillate plants or both.
Polygamo-monoecious. Plant monoecious, but with some perfect flowers.
Trioecious. Plants staminate, pistillate or perfect.
D. General Sexual Terms
A. Pollination Types
(Classification based on agent by which pollen is transferred from the pollen sac or
anther to the stigma or ovule)
B. Pollination Pathways
(Structural route that the pollen tube traverses in reaching the ovule)
A. Periodicity
(Recurrence of growth phenomena at regular time intervals; or seasonality of occurrence
of plant growth phenomena)
Anthesis. Time of flowering; opening of flower with parts available for pollination.
Blastocarpous. Germination of seeds while within the pericarp, as in Rhizophora.
Coetaneous. Flowering as the leaves expand; synantherous.
Dichogamous. With maturation of stamens or anther and carpels or stigma at
different times.
Homogamous. With maturation of stamens or anther and carpels or stigma at
same time.
A. Growth Regions
(Location of meristematic region on or within an organ or its parts)
Adaxial or Abaxial. Growth region localized on top or bottom of a leaf part or any
dorsi-ventral structure.
Apical or Terminal. Growth region at the apex of the structure.
Basal. Growth region at the base of a blade. as in grasses.
Intercalary. Growth region near the base of an internode or base of blade.
Interstitial. Growth all-over in an organ, no localized meristems, as in some fruits.
Dwarf Shoots or Spurs. Shoots that develop from preformed buds which have
very short internodal lengths or intervals.
Epicormic Shoots or Water Sprouts. Shoots that develop from dormant lateral
buds on the trunk which have very long and frequently variable internodal lengths
or intervals.
Flushing Shoots. Shoots that develop from mature terminal buds several times
during a season. Terminal bud will develop shoot with new terminal bud which
will develop more shoots and a terminal bud which will develop etc.--several
times in a season with several flushes of growth.
Heterophyllous Shoots. Shoots that develop from winter buds which do not
contain the primordia of all the leaves to develop during the year.
Lammas Shoots. Abnormal late season shoots that develop from the terminal
bud, not a recurring phenomenon as in flushing shoots.
Long Bud Shoots. Abnormal buds or shoots which elongate, then have arrested
growth without the development of leaves and lateral branches.
Long Shoots. Normal shoots that develop from terminal or axillary buds which
have normal internodal lengths or intervals.
Preformed Shoots. Normal shoots that develop from winter buds which contain
primordia of all leaves that will expand during the season.
Proleptic Shoots. Abnormal late season shoots that develop from the lateral buds
immediately beneath the terminal.
Sucker Shoots. Shoots that develop from adventitious buds on old stumps or
roots, usually after cutting or injury, which have elongate internodal lengths and
intervals.
Syleptic Shoots. Abnormal shoots that develop from lateral buds before they
have reached maturity.
A. Symmetry
Actinomorphic or Radial. With floral parts radiate from center like spokes on
wheel.
Asymmetric. Without regularity in any dimension.
Dorsiventral. Planate and having distinct dorsal and ventral surfaces, the two
usually different.
Equilateral. With halves or sides equal in shape and size.
Inequilateral. With halves or sides unequal in shape and size.
Irregular. With floral parts within a whorl dissimilar in shape and/ or size.
Regular. With floral parts within a whorl similar in shape and size.
Spherical. With multi-dimensional radial symmetry.
Zygomorphic or Bilateral. With floral parts in two symmetrical halves.
B. Arrangement Systems
(Based on Leppik [1961])
Floral Nectaries
Extrafloral Nectaries
Cauline. May be all over (general) or along the ribs (costal), or in the
grooves (canaliculate).
Laminar. May be all over (general) or near apex (acrolaminar) or near base
(basilaminar) or marginal.
Petiolar. May be all over (general) or near apex (acropetiolar) or near base
(basipetiolar).
A. Standardized Colors
Use standardized color charts, such as the Ridgeway for solid color descriptions.
B. Distribution of Colors (Variegation)
(Patterns of color variegation on an organ or parts. Adapted from Lindley [1848])
Ocellated. A broad spot of some color has another spot of a different color within
it.
Painted. Colors disposed in streaks of unequal intensity.
Spotted. The color disposed in small spots.
Striped. Longitudinal stripes of one color crossing another.
Tessellated. Color arranged in small squares, so as to have some resemblance to a
checkered pavement.
Variegated. The color disposed in various irregular, sinuous, spaces.
Zoned. The same as ocellated, but the concentric bands more numerous.
Homophytous. Having more than one state within each individual plant, all plants
the same.
Monomorphic. All of the same shape and size.
Not Applicable. Not relevant to the taxon at hand; passive null value.
Obscure. Not clearly visible macroscopically, usually owing to incomplete
differentiation.
Petaloid. Petal-like in shape, texture and/or color.
Polyanthous. Having different states in several to many (more than three)
different sets of flowers, only one state present in each set.
Polyheterophytous. Having different states in several to many (more than three)
different individuals or sets of plants, only one state present in each set.
Polymorphic. Having several to many (more than three) different shapes and/or
sizes within the same species.
Same. Same as in description of next higher taxon.
Sepaloid. Sepal-like in shape, texture and/or color.
Simple. Not composed of more than one anatomically or morphologically
equivalent unit.
Triheteranthous. Having different states in three different sets of flowers, only
one state present in each set.
Triheterophytous. Having different states in three different sets of plants, only
one state present in each set.
Trimorphic. Elaving three different shapes and/or sizes within the same species.
Unknown. Relevant to taxon at hand but status not known; information
unavailable.
[ PREVIOUS SUBSECTION ]
A. Vegetative Structures
Uninodal Shoot. Spring shoot developing from the terminal winter bud and
producing only one internode with one whorl of branches at the end; the cones
are subterminal at the end of the shoot; e.g., Pinus resinosa.
B. Reproductive Structures
Epimatium. Fleshy covering of the seed and more or less fused with the
integument; arising from the chalazal end of the ovule like an additional
integument; e.g., Podocarpus.
Megasporophyll. Modified leaf bearing o w les; e.g., Zamia.
Microsporophyll. Modified leaf bearing microsporangia or pollen sacs.
Ovuliferous Scale. Highly modified lateral branch in the axil of a leaf (bract), and
bearing ovules. May be flat or peltate, woody or fleshy; e.g., Pinaceae.
Receptaculum. A fleshy structure below the seed formed from the bases of bracts
and the swollen receptacle or cone axis; e.g.,Acmopyle, and
some Podocarpus spp.
Umbo. Projection, with or without spine or prickle, on the apophysis of the cone
scale.
I. SPOROPHYTE
A. Stems
1. Branching
Axial. With branches arising from buds in leaf axil.
Dichotomous. With branches forking into two more or less equal parts.
Epipetiolar. With branches arising from buds on the petiole.
Monopodial. Having one main axis of growth.
Random. With branches arising from buds without relation to leaves.
Sympodial. With branches more or less equal without a main axis.
2. Phyllotaxis
Distichous. With leaves in two rows.
Polystichous. With leaves in several rows.
3. External Features
Aerial Stem. An erect stem arising from a horizontal rhizome.
Articulate. Generally meaning having a joint as in leaves, leaflets or stems, as in
heterophyllous species of Selaginella; or having a swollen area, often discolored,
at the point of branching of the stem.
Jointed. With stems that can be pulled apart easily at the nodes, as in Equisetum.
Node. Point on the stem where leaves are attached; or the point of branching of
the stem.
Rameal Sheath. Leaf sheath on the stem joints, as in Equisetum.
Tubercules. Silica deposits on the stem ridges, as in Equisetum.
4. Internal Features
Canals. As in Equisetum.
Central Canal. The large centrally located air space in the stem.
Carinal Canal. A canal beneath a stem ridge associated with a vascular
bundle.
Vallecular Canal. A canal beneath a stem groove.
Stele. The central primary vascular system of the stem and associated tissues.
Delimited from the cortex by endodermis and pericycle.
1. Duration
Evergreen. Bearing green leaves through the winter.
Marcescent. The leaves of short duration, dying at the end of the growing season.
2. Megaphylls
(Leaves with a branching vein system which are associated with nodal leaf
gap)
a. General
Crozier. The coiled developing leaf of a fern.
Frond. The leaf of a fern.
b. Parts of a Leaf
Blade. The expanded portion of a leaf.
Costa. The midvein of a minor divsion of a fern leaf.
Lamina. The leaf tissue other than the veins or axes.
Eusporangiate. Having the sporangium develop from a great amount of leaf tissue
as opposed to only one or a few cells.
Exospore or Exine. Outer spore wall layer.
Fovea. Pit or depression containing the sporangium in the leaf base of Isoetes.
Heterosporous. Having two kinds of spores, usually differing in size.
Homosporous. Having spores of only one kind.
Indusium. A flap of tissue covering a sorus.
II. GAMETOPHYTE
Antheridium. The male sex organ producing the sperm.
Archegonium. The female sex organ producing the egg.
Prothallus. Gametophyte of lower vascular plants.
Rhizoid. A hair-like absorptive organ on gametophytes and rarely on sporophytes.