Glossary
GLOSSARY
abaxial: facing away from the axis.
abscission: cutting off.
achene: a small, dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fr. with thin pericarp.
acicular: having a needle-shaped tip.
acropetal: produced in succession towards the tip.
actinomorphic: with the parts radially symmetrical. Fig. 17: Libertia —perianth.
acuminate: tapering to a fine point. Fig. 11: Luzula —tepals.
acute: sharply pointed.
adaxial: facing towards the axis.
adnate: united to an organ of a different kind, as sepals to petals.
adventitious: arising irregularly or in an unusual position, as roots from stems.
adventive: arriving from outside; in contrast to native.
alate: winged.
alternate: placed singly along an axis, not in opp. pairs. Fig. 16: Gaimardia setacea —bracts in infl.
alveolate: deeply closely pitted.
anatropous: of an ovule bent over against its funicle so that the micropyle is close to, and the chalaza remote from, the placenta.
androecium: the stamens as a whole.
androgynous: with ♂ and ♀ in the same infl. Fig. 43: Carex pyrenaica —spike.
annual: completing its life-cycle within one year.
annulus: a ring, often of thicker tissue; hence annular, ring-shaped.
anterior: on the side away from the axis and so appearing in front.
anther: the pollen-bearing part of a stamen.
anther-tail: an elongated outgrowth from the lower part of the anther-wall. Fig. 5: Arthropodium.
anthesis: the act of flowering; the stage when pollen is shed.
apetalous: without petals. Fig. 3: Ruppia —fls.
apiculate: ending in a short, slender, ± flexible point.
apocarpous: with separate carpels. Fig. 4: Lepilaena —female fl.
appendage: a part added to another; a special outgrowth. Fig. 28: Pterostylis —on labellum.
appressed: closely and flatly pressed against a surface.
approximate: close together. Fig. 43: Carex wakatipu —spikes.
arborescent: approaching the size and habit of a tree.
arcuate: curved or arched, ± strongly.
aril: an appendage to a seed, us. an outgrowth from the funicle; hence arillate.
aristate: with a stiff awn or seta.
articulate: jointed; with nodes or joints where parts may separate.
ascending: directed upwards at a rather narrow angle.
attenuate: gradually tapering.
auricle: an ear-shaped appendage or lobe; hence auricled, auriculate. Fig. 4: Lepilaena —on sheaths of lvs adjacent to infl.
awn: a stiff or bristle-like projection often from the tip or back of an organ; hence awned.
axil: the upper angle between two dissimilar parts; hence axillary, occurring in the axil. Fig. 43: Carex —spikes in axils of bracts.
axile: of the axis; especially of placentae attached to the axis of a several-loculed ovary. Fig. 8: Astelia banksii —axile placentation.
axis: the main stem or central longitudinal support; pl. axes.
baccate: of fruit, berry-like, with pulpy mesocarp.
basifixed: attached by the base; us. of anthers. Fig. 5: Arthropodium, Dianella —anthers.
bast fibres: the fibres of the phloem or inner bark.
beak: a prominent extension of an organ. Fig. 3: Ruppia —on achene; Fig. 43: Carex trifida —on utricle.
berry: a fleshy fr. containing several to many seeds but not a "stone". Fig. 8: Astelia.
bi-: a prefix meaning two.
bidentate: having two teeth. Fig. 43: Carex trifida —beak of utricle.
bifid: divided into two parts. Fig. 30: Prasophyllum —column-wing; Fig. 39: Fimbristylis —style.
bilateral: of, on or with two sides.
bipartite: divided nearly to the base into two parts.
biseriate: arranged in two rows.
bisexual: of fls, with both sexes functional. Fig. 14: Luzula —fl.; Fig. 39: Tetraria —fl.
bract: a modified, often much-reduced lf, especially the small or scale-like lvs of an infl.; dimin. bracteole, bractlet; hence bracteate, bracteolate. Fig. 11: Rostkovia —long bracts; Fig. 16: Centrolepidaceae —short bracts.
bractiform: having the appearance of a bract.
bulb: a thickened part made up of ± fleshy scales on a short axis; hence bulbous.
caducous: falling off at an early stage.
caespitose: growing in ± dense tufts.
callus: a thickened, us. hardened part; hence callous, callose. Fig. 20, 31.
calyx: the outer, us. greenish, whorl of floral parts, consisting of free or united sepals.
campanulate: bell-shaped.
campylotropous: of an ovule so curved that the axis lies ± at right angles to the funicle and parallel to the placenta.
canaliculate: longitudinally channelled or grooved.
capillary: hair-like.
capitate: head-like.
capitulum: a dense head-like infl. of ∞ us. sessile fls; pl. capitula.
capsule: a dry dehiscent fr. formed by the union of two or more carpels; hence capsular. Fig. 11, 17.
carpel: one unit of the female part of the fl., consisting of ovule-bearing ovary, receptive stigma, and often a stalk-like style between them.
carpodium: abortive carpel.
carpophore: a prolongation of the floral axis above the level of attachment of the perianth.
caruncle: a fleshy outgrowth at the base of the seed, sts becoming hardened; hence carunculate. Fig. 8: Astelia solandri —seed; Fig. 14: Luzula —seed.
cauda: a tail or tail-like appendage; hence caudate; dimin. caudicle. Fig. 28: Pterostylis —caudate lateral sepals.
cauline: belonging to the stem, especially its upper aerial part. Fig. 28: Pterostylis —lvs on flowering stem.
chalaza: the part of the ovule where the nucellus joins the integuments. Fig. 18: Rhopalostylis —at upper end of hilum.
channelled: hollowed out longitudinally like a gutter. Fig. 43b: Carex; in Families other than Cyperaceae the term is used where the hollow may be broader and more rounded.
chartaceous: of thin papery texture.
chlorophyll: the green colouring matter within the cells of plants.
chromosomes: small deeply staining bodies found in all cell-nuclei, the number us. constant for any given sp.
cilium: a short, eye-lash-like hair; pl. cilia; hence ciliate, ciliolate. Fig. 16: Centrolepis ciliata —on lf-sheath; Fig. 26: Thelymitra —on column-arms. cincinnus: a one-sided cymose infl.
circumscissile: dehiscing as if cut circularly around, the top valve coming off like a lid.
cirrhose: tendril-like, with a slender, ± coiled tip.
clavate: club-shaped; thickened towards the apex.
claw: the narrowed stalk-like base of a petal or sepal; hence clawed. Fig. 30: Prasophyllum —labellum.
cleistogamic: of fls that remain closed and are self-fertilized.
collateral: standing side by side. Fig. 16: Gaimardia setacea —female fls.
column: body formed by the union of stamens, style and stigmas, especially in Orchidaceae; hence column-arm, Fig. 26; column-foot, Fig. 34; column-wing, Fig. 20.
combination (combinatio): the name of a taxon below the rank of genus, consisting of the name of a genus combined with one or more epithets.
compound: composed of several ± similar parts, as opposed to simple.
compressed: flattened.
confluent: blending or running together.
congeneric: belonging to one and the same genus.
congested: crowded.
connate: joined together, especially of two similar parts united. Fig. 16: Gaimardia —connate female fls; Fig. 27: Pterostylis —connate lateral sepals.
connective: the tissue connecting the two lobes of an anther.
connivent: converging together; us. of two or more organs with their bases separated and their apices approaching one another.
contiguous: touching but not fused.
continuous: without breaks; uninterrupted. Fig. 13: Juncus pallidus —pith.
coralloid: coral-like, with many short, thick branchlets.
cordate: heart-shaped, with the notch at the base.
coriaceous: of somewhat leathery texture, tough.
corm: a short, swollen underground stem, us. erect and invested by a few scales and functioning only for one season. Fig. 6: Iphigenia; Fig. 19: Hypoxis.
corolla: the inner, us. showy, whorl of floral parts, consisting of free or united petals; hence corolloid, resembling a corolla.
corrugated: wrinkled.
cortex: the outer layers of the stem.
corymb: a ± flat-topped raceme, the long-pedicelled outer fls opening first.
costa: a rib, especially the midrib or other strong nerve of a lf; pl. costae; hence costate.
cotyledon: seed-lf, already present on the embryo in the seed.
crenate: with shallow, rounded teeth, the sinus acute. Fig. 21: Acianthus viridis —petiolate lf.
crested: with raised, irregular or toothed ridge.
crisped: of a margin crumpled or thrown into close waves. Fig. 32: Spiranthes —labellum.
crown: the tissue at the junction of the root and the stem.
crownshaft: a trunk-like extension of the bole formed by the long, broad, overlapping lf-bases; especially in some palms.
crura: shanks; used for the two small projections at the mouth of a utricle in Carex. Fig. 43: Carex trifida.
cucullate: hood-shaped, hooded. Fig. 26: Thelymitra longifolia —post-anther lobe of column.
culm: the stem, particularly of grasses and sedges, bearing lvs and infl.
cuneate: wedge-shaped; gradually and evenly narrowed to base.
cusp: a sharp rigid point; hence cuspidate, with the apex abruptly narrowed to a cusp.
cyme: an infl. in which continued growth depends on the production of new lateral growing points; when these develop symmetrically the infl. tends to be broad and flattish with the oldest fls innermost; hence cymose.
cytology: the study of the cell and here especially of its chromosomes.
cytotaxonomy: classification of organisms based on cytology.
deciduous: (a) falling at the end of one season; (b) losing its lvs in autumn.
deflexed: bent sharply downwards.
dehiscent: opening, us. regularly, to shed contents when ripe; hence dehiscence.
dentate: with sharp teeth perpendicular to the margins, the sinus ± open; dimin. denticulate. Fig. 4: Zannichellia —lf tip.
depauperate: reduced in size, as if starved.
digitate: spreading from a centre like the fingers of a hand.
dilated: enlarged, or expanded, or widened.
dimorphic: occurring in two forms.
dioecious: having ♂ and ♀ on different plants.
diploid: having a double set of chromosomes, i.e. 2n.
distal: towards the free, as opposed to the attached or proximal, end of an organ.
distant: standing apart, separated. Fig. 43: Carex devia —spikes.
distichous: arranged in two opp. rows so as to lie in one plane. Fig. 6: Herpolirion —lvs.
divergent: spreading away from one another, us. at a rather wide angle.
dormant: not in active growth.
dorsifixed: attached by the back, especially of anthers. Fig. 8: Astelia fragrans —anthers; Fig. 16: Centrolepis ciliata —anther.
dorsiventral: with distinct upper and lower surfaces.
double-folded: used of a lf of which the T.S. resembles an inverted W because of a prominent nerve on each side of the midrib. Fig. 43a.
drupe: a "stone fruit", the seed enclosed in a bony covering (endocarp) which is surrounded by a ± fleshy layer (mesocarp); hence drupaceous; dimin. drupelet. e- or ex-: prefix meaning lacking.
ebracteate: without bracts.
ecallose: lacking calli.
echinate: beset with prickles.
ecostate: lacking ribs.
effuse: spreading loosely.
eligulate: lacking ligules. Fig. 16: Centrolepis ciliata —lf.
ellipsoid: of a solid object, elliptic in section or outline.
elliptic: in the shape of an ellipse, rounded at both ends, widest at the middle.
emarginate: with a shallow notch at the apex. Fig. 31: Microtis unifolia —labellum
embryology: the study of the earliest stages in the development of a new plant from a fertilized egg-cell.
endemic: native only to a particular country or region; here meaning occurring naturally only in the N.Z. Botanical Region or some part of it.
endocarp: the inner layer of the fr.-wall, sts stony, lying next to the seed.
endosperm: the nutritive tissue outside the embryo in a seed.
ensiform: sword-shaped, ± rhomboid in T.S.
entire: with a continuous margin completely lacking teeth; hairs may be present.
epidermis: the outermost layer of cells.
epigynous: borne on top of the ovary. Fig. 19: Hypoxis —corolla.
epiphyte: a plant growing upon another but not organically connected with it; hence epiphytic.
equitant: folded over as if astride; of opp. lvs folded longitudinally and overlapping in their lower parts.
erose: with an irregular margin as if gnawed.
-escent: suffix signifying "inclined to be" or "becoming".
evanescent: soon vanishing; lasting a short time or running a short distance.
excurrent: running out beyond the margin or apex, as the veins in some lvs.
exocarp: the outermost layer of the fr.-wall.
exserted: projecting, as the stamens beyond the corolla; not included. Fig. 1: Zostera muelleri —stigmas; Fig. 16: Centrolepis ciliata —stamen.
exstipulate: without stipules.
extrorse: directed outwards, used of anther dehiscence.
falcate: strongly curved; sickle-shaped. Fig. 28: Pterostylis —dorsal sepals, especially of P. brumalis.
fascicle: a close cluster or bundle; hence fascicled, fasciculate.
fellfield: very open vegetation made up, for the most part, of very low-growing plants, mostly of high mountains; or rather stony places where such vegetation grows.
felted: matted with intertwined hairs.
fenestra: a window-like opening.
ferruginous: rust-coloured.
fertile: (a) producing seed, spores or pollen capable of germination; (b) well supplied with nutrients.
fibrillose: finely fibrous.
-fid: suffix meaning cleft.
filament: a thread-like organ, especially the stalk of the stamen bearing the anther.
filamentous, filiform: thread-like; very slender, but less so than capillary. Fig. 24: Corybas —lateral sepals and petals in most spp.
fimbria: fringe; pl. fimbriae; hence fimbriate. Fig. 4: Lepilaena —stigmas; Fig. 26: Thelymitra pulchella —column-arms.
flabellate, flabelliform: fan-shaped.
flaccid: limp, not rigid.
flagelliform: long and very slender, like a whip-lash. Fig. 1: Zostera —stigmas.
flexible: easily bent but recovering.
flexuous: having a wavy or zigzag form.
foliaceous: leaflike.
foliose: bearing numerous or crowded lvs.
follicle: a dry dehiscent fr. formed from one carpel and dehiscing along one side.
fovea: a depression or pit; hence foveate; dimin. foveolate.
fruit: the ripened ovary containing the seeds; often used to include associated parts such as fleshy receptacle.
funicle: the stalk of an ovule attaching it to the ovary wall or placenta; dimin. funiculus. Fig. 9: Collospermum microspermum.
funnelform: with the tube gradually widened upwards.
fuscous: of a brownish or greyish brown colour.
fusiform: spindle-shaped; of a solid ± swollen in the middle and narrowed to both ends. Fig. 40: Gahnia pauciflora —nut.
galea: a hooded portion of a perianth; hence galeate, helmet-shaped. Fig. 28: Pterostylis —galea composed of dorsal sepal and lateral petals.
geminate: twinned; arranged in pairs.
geophyte: herb with buds below the soil surface.
geotropic: turning under the influence of gravity.
gibbous: somewhat swollen on one side, us. near the base. Fig. 3: Ruppia megacarpa —fr.; Fig. 33: Gastrodia —perianth-tubes.
glabrous: without hairs of any sort.
gland: a secreting organ or part, the secretion oil, resin or other liquid; hence glandular, bearing glands or of the nature of a gland.
glaucous: of a distinctly bluish green colour, not necessarily due to a bloom; hence glaucescent, slightly glaucous or becoming so.
globose: nearly spherical; similarly globular.
glomerule: a very dense cluster; hence glomerulate. Fig. 18.
glume: a small chaffy or membranous bract, especially at the base of a grass spikelet or sedge fl.; hence glumaceous. Fig. 38: Carex —glume with male fl.; Fig. 41: Uncinia —glumes subtending utricles.
gynoecium: the female part of the fl. made up of one or more carpels.
gynophore: a stalk or stipe raising the base of the ovary above the level of attachment of the perianth. Fig. 7: Bulbinella hookeri, B. modesta, B. talbotii.
habit: the general appearance of a plant.
habitat: the kind of place in which a plant grows.
haploid: having a single set of chromosomes, i.e. the number (n) typical of the mature germ cells of the organism.
hastate: shaped like an arrowhead, with the basal lobes pointed or narrow and spreading at a wide angle.
herb: any vascular plant which is not woody; hence herbaceous.
herbfield: vegetation, us. closed, distinguished by the abundance of various large herbs.
hermaphrodite: having both stamens and carpels.
hilum: the scar on the seed marking the place of attachment of its stalk. Fig. 18: Rhopalostylis.
hippocrepiform: horseshoe-shaped.
hirsute: bearing coarse hairs.
hispid: bearing stiff, ± bristle-like hairs; dimin. hispidulous. Fig. 42: Uncinia sinclairii —utricle.
holotype: the one specimen or other element used by the author or designated by him as the nomenclatural type.
horned: bearing a horn-shaped structure.
horny: of horn-like texture.
hyaline: thin and translucent.
hybrid: a plant whose parents differ sufficiently to be accorded specific or infra-specific rank. Hybrids or putative hybrids between two spp. of the same genus are designated by a formula and, whenever it seems useful or necessary, by a name; the formula consists of the specific epithets of the two parents in alphabetical order connected by the multiplication sign; the name, which is subject to the same rules as the names of spp., is distinguished by the multiplication sign before the epithet, e.g. Cordyline australis × pumilio = Cordyline × matthewsii Carse.
hypogynous: borne below the ovary. Fig. 38, 39. Cyperaceae —scales, bristles and stamens.
hypostase: a support, e.g. the suspensor of an embryo.
imbricate: overlapping like roof-tiles. Fig. 41: Uncinia divaricata —glumes, especially in the upper part.
immersed: ± embedded.
incertae sedis: of uncertain position.
incrassate: thickened, especially when also hard.
incumbent: resting or leaning upon; of an anther, lying against the inner face of its filament.
indigenous: native to a particular area; not introduced.
indehiscent: not opening to release its contents, except finally by decay.
indumentum: used as a general term for a covering of hairs of any form.
inferior: situated below another organ or part; an inferior ovary is surrounded by and fused with the receptacle and so is below the insertion of the perianth. Fig. 17: Libertia —ovaries.
inflexed: turned sharply inwards.
inflorescence: a general term for a collection of flowering parts, or for the arrangement of the fls.
infructescence: a collection of fruiting parts, or the arrangement of the frs.
innovation: used for a vigorous shoot which carries on the further growth of the plant.
insectiform: resembling the shape of an insect.
inserted: attached to or growing upon; hence insertion, the place or mode of attachment.
integument: a covering; used especially of the covering of the nucellus of an ovule.
internode: the part of an axis between two nodes.
interrupted: with broken continuity. Fig. 13: Juncus sarophorus, J. distegus —pith.
interstitial: occupying an intervening space.
intramarginal: inside, us. just inside, the margin.
introduced: of a species that is not native to the country but has been brought in by accident or design.
introrse: facing inwards or towards the axis; often applied to anthers that open towards the centre of a fl.
invest: clothe.
involucre: one or more whorls of bracts, often ± calyx-like, surrounding an aggregation of fls; hence involucral, involucrate.
involute: rolled inwards, or to the upper (adaxial) side.
isobilateral: with the two sides similar.
isotype: a duplicate of the holotype.
keel: a sharp central ridge, like the keel of a boat. Fig. 43b: Carex —lf.
labellum: a lip; used in an orchid fl. for the middle petal which us. differs in size, shape or ornamentation from the two lateral petals. Fig. 20–37.
lacerate: irregularly torn or cleft.
laciniate: deeply, us. irregularly, divided into very narrow pointed segments.
lacuna: a gap; hence lacunose. Fig. 13: Juncus distegus —pith.
lamina: a thin flat organ or part, especially the expanded portion or blade of a lf; pl. laminae; hence laminate; dimin. lamella, lamellate.
lanceolate: lance-shaped; of a lf several times longer than wide with greatest width about one third from base, tapering gradually to apex and more rapidly to base.
lateral: on or near the side; hence a side structure, e.g. nerve, branch.
lax: loosely arranged or distantly placed.
lectotype: a specimen or other element selected from the original material to serve as a nomenclatural type when the holotype was not designated at the time of publication or for so long as it is missing.
lenticular: of the shape of a ± circular biconvex lens.
liane: a woody climbing plant; hence lianoid.
ligneous: woody.
ligule: a strap-shaped body; hence ligulate. Fig. 25: Calochilus paludosus —end of labellum. Also the thin scarious appendage at the junction of lamina and sheath of a lf, sts reduced to hairs. Fig. 16: Gaimardia setacea —lf.
limb: the expanded part of a petal or sepal.
line: as a measurement, 1/12 inch, = c. 2mm.
linear: very narrow, with parallel margins.
lingulate: tongue-shaped.
lip: one of the two parts of a bilabiate calyx or corolla. Also the labellum of an orchid fl.
litter: vegetable matter, ± decayed and associated with living plants.
lobe: a recognizable but not separated division, especially when rounded; hence lobate, lobed; dimin. lobule, lobulate. Fig. 20: Orthoceras —labellum.
locule: a compartment or cavity of an organ, e.g. of ovary, fr., or anther; hence locular.
loculicidal: opening into a locule; of dehiscence, by the splitting of the outer wall of each locule. Fig. 11: Luzula —capsule; Fig. 17: Libertia —capsules.
marcescent: withering without falling off. Fig. 7: Bulbinella angustifolia, B. hookeri, B. modesta, B. talbotii —tepals.
median: belonging to the middle.
megagametophyte: the special tissue associated with the egg-cell.
membranous: thin and ± pliable.
mentum: a chin-like structure.
-merous: denoting parts and used mainly of floral organs, e.g. 3-merous, having sepals, petals, etc. in whorls of 3.
mesocarp: the middle layer of a pericarp or fruit-wall.
mesophyll: the internal ground tissue of a lf-blade.
micropyle: the minute opening in the integuments of the ovule through which the pollen-grain or -tube enters.
microspore: one of the cells produced from a pollen-mother-cell.
midrib: the main central nerve of a lf or similar organ.
mitre: a structure shaped like a tall bishop's cap.
monochasium: a cymose infl. in which the main axes each produce one branch.
monoecious: having unisexual fls, ♂and ♀ on the same plant. Fig. 41: Uncinia banksii; Fig. 43: Carex.
monopodial: of a stem in which growth is continued from year to year by the same apical growing point. Fig. 37: Drymoanthus.
monotypic: having only one representative, as a genus with only one sp.
morphology: the study of form; hence morphologically, in respect of form.
mucro: a short sharp tip or excurrent midrib; hence mucronate; dimin. mucronulate. Fig. 4: Lepilaena —excurrent connective of anther.
multitubular: many-tubed. Fig. 12: Juncus, Sect. Septati —upper of the two drawings of lvs.
muricate: rough owing to many minute hard outgrowths.
mycorrhiza: association of fungal mycelium with the roots of a higher plant.
naked: of a part lacking bracts or appendages or of a fl. lacking a perianth.
native: not known to have been introduced by human agency.
nectary: a gland exuding the sweet fluid called nectar.
neotype: a specimen selected to serve as nomenclatural type or so long as all of the material on which the name of the taxon was based is missing.
nerve: a strand of conducting and us. strengthening tissue in a lf or other structure; in monocotyledons this term is commonly preferred for longitudinal strands, the transverse ones in contrast being called veins. Fig. 1: Zostera —lvs; Fig. 42: Uncinia angustifolia —utricle.
nigrescent: turning black.
node: a place on a stem marked by the attachment of one or more lvs.
nomen nudum: a bare name, i.e. one published without an accompanying description.
nucellus: the inner tissue of an ovule, enclosing the embryo-sac and surrounded by the integuments.
nude: bare, without secondary parts or organs.
nut: an indehiscent, 1-seeded fr. with hard woody wall; dimin. nutlet. Fig. 38: Uncinia, Carex; Fig. 40: Gahnia.
ob-: signifies inversion, e.g. ovate and obovate.
oblique: with sides unequal.
oblong: longer than broad, with parallel margins and rounded ends.
obovoid: of a solid body, as a seed, obovate in outline.
obtuse: blunt.
opaque: not translucent.
operculum: a lid or cover which separates and falls away at maturity.
opposite: of a pair of organs arising at the same level on opposite sides of an axis.
orbicular: rounded in outline, with length = width.
orifice: the mouth of a cavity.
orthotropous: of an ovule with its axis in a straight line with the funicle, the micropyle remote from the placenta.
oval: broadly elliptic, narrowing somewhat from the middle to the rounded ends.
ovary: the part of the gynoecium that encloses the ovules.
ovate: egg-shaped, attached by the broad end.
ovoid: of a solid body with an ovate outline.
ovule: the structure which contains the egg or female sex-cell and which, after fertilization, develops into the seed. Fig. 9: Collospermum microspermum —in T.S. of ovary and shown separately.
pakihi: open or barren land; used especially of flat badly drained areas of the western part of South Id with a characteristic vegetation of shrubby and rush-like plants.
palmate: radiately lobed or divided.
palynology: the study of pollen.
pandurate, panduriform: fiddle-shaped; ± obovate but with a "waist".
panicle: an indeterminate branched infl. with the fls pedicellate; hence panicled, paniculate.
papilla: minute pimple-like process; hence papillate, papillose.
parasite: a plant attached to and deriving nourishment from another living plant; hence parasitic.
parenchyma: a tissue of thin-walled, little differentiated cells; hence parenchymatous.
parietal: pertaining to the wall; placentation is parietal when the ovules are borne on the walls of the ovary or on minute projections therefrom. Fig. 8: Astelia subulata, A. solandri.
partite: deeply divided.
patent: spreading ± at right angles to the axis.
pedicel: the stalk of an individual fl. in a compound infl.; hence pedicellate.
peduncle: the stalk of a solitary fl. or the main stalk of a compound infl.; hence pedunculate.
pellicle: a thin skin-like covering.
peltate: shield-like, with the stalk attached well inside the margin.
pencil: like a small narrow brush.
pendent, pendulous: hanging down from its support.
perennial: with a life-span of more than two years.
perianth: the floral envelopes considered as a whole; used especially when the calyx and corolla are not well differentiated in form, or when either one is absent.
pericarp: the wall of the ripened ovary, i.e. of the fruit.
perigynous: surrounding the ovary; of a fl. in which the perianth and stamens arise from the edge of a ± cup-shaped receptacle, surrounding but free from the ovary.
petal: a unit of the corolla, when completely free; hence petaloid, resembling a petal.
petiole: the stalk of a lf; hence petiolate. Fig. 24: Corybas macranthus, C. trilobus.
phalange: bundle; used of fr. developed from several fused carpels in Pandanaceae.
phanerogams: general term to include all seed-plants (Spermatopsida).
pilose: bearing soft shaggy hairs.
pinna: a division, especially a primary division, of a pinnate lf.
pinnate: compound, with the parts arranged on either side of an axis, as in a feather; hence pinnatifid, pinnatisect.
pistil: the gynoecium; hence pistillate, of fls with gynoecium but without functional stamens, i.e. female. Fig. 38: Uncinia —pistillate fl. within utricle; Fig. 43: Carex devia —lower spikes with pistillate fls, upper with staminate.
pistillode: a vestigial pistil present in some staminate fls. Fig. 9: Collospermum microspermum —in male fl.
pith: a soft spongy central tissue.
placenta: the place or part in an ovary where the ovules are attached.
placentation: the arrangement of the placentae within the ovary, e.g. axile (Fig. 8: Astelia banksii; Fig. 11: Juncus) or parietal (Fig. 8: Astelia solandri).
platelet: a small flattened structure.
plumose: feather-like. Fig. 39: Carpha —hypogynous bristles.
podogyne: a stalk carrying the gynoecium upwards from the centre of the fl. Fig. 3: Ruppia polycarpa —with mature frs.
pollen: the microspores of a flowering plant or conifer.
pollination: the transference of the pollen to the receptive surface of the female organ.
pollinium: a coherent mass of pollen, as in fls of orchids; pl. pollinia. Fig. 34.
polyandrous: having an indefinite number of stamens.
polymorphic: of several forms.
polyporate: having many pores; especially of pollen grains.
posterior: on the side nearest the axis and so appearing at the back.
proliferous: producing offshoots or buds capable of growing into new plants.
prophyll: a first leaf, e.g. at the base of a branch.
protandrous: with the anthers shedding pollen before the stigma is receptive in the same fl.
protogynous: with the stigma receptive before the pollen is shed in the same fl.
protologue: everything associated with a name at its first publication, i.e. diagnosis, description, illustrations, references, synonymy, geographical data, citation of specimens, discussion, and comments. (from International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. 1966: 71).
proximal: towards the attached, as opposed to the free or distal, end of an organ.
pseudanthium: a reduced or partial infl. simulating a single fl. Fig. 16: Centro-lepidaceae.
pseudo-: prefix meaning false.
pseudobulb: a thickened, bulb-like portion of an aerial stem, especially in orchids. Fig. 35: Bulbophyllum.
pubescent: clad in short hairs; dimin. puberulous, puberulent. Fig. 32: Spiranthes —ovary.
punctate: with dot-like markings, frequently due to translucent or coloured glands; dimin. punctulate.
pungent: (a) ending in a stiff sharp point; (b) acrid to the taste.
pyriform: pear-shaped.
quadrate: square in form.
quinate: growing together in fives.
raceme: an unbranched, ± elongate, indeterminate infl. with stalked fls, those at the base the oldest; hence racemose. Fig. 20.
radical: of lvs, arising from the stock or crown of a root, or from a rhizome.
recurved: curved backward or downward.
reduplicate: doubled back, used of palm lvs where the pinnae are A-snaped in T.S.
reflexed: bent sharply backwards. Fig. 9: Collospermum microspermum —tepals in male fl.
reniform: kidney-shaped. Fig. 24: Corybas trilobus —lf.
resupinate: twisted through 180°, as the fl. of many orchids.
reticulate: in the form of a network.
retinaculum: a fibrous band holding parts together. Fig. 1: Zostera.
retroflexed: bent back.
retrorse: bent backwards or downwards, us. abruptly; used especially of hairs or prickles.
retuse: with the apex rounded with a small notch.
revolute: rolled outwards or to the lower (abaxial) side.
rhachis: the axis of an infl. or of a compound lf; pl. rhachides; dimin. rhachilla, used especially of the axis of a spikelet. Fig. 38: Uncinia —rhachilla terminating in a rigid glume forming a hook.
rhizome: an underground stem, us. spreading ± horizontally; hence rhizomatous. Fig. 12: Juncus Sect. Septati; Fig. 22: Adenochilus gracilis; Fig. 24: Corybas cryptanthus; Fig. 33: Gastrodia.
rhomboid: ± "diamond"-shaped.
rootstock: a short erect underground stem; the tissue at the junction of the root and the stem, sts referred to as a crown.
rosette: a group of organs radiating from a centre; used especially where the lowest internodes of a stem are very short with numerous, ± overlapping lvs which may be ± appressed to the soil; hence rosulate. Fig. 29.
rostellum: a small beak; used especially for a sterile process of the stigmatic area in orchids. Fig. 20.
rostrate: beaked.
rudimentary: arrested at an early stage of development.
rufous: reddish, of all shades.
rugose: wrinkled; dimin. rugulose.
rupestral: growing on rocks.
sac: a pouch-like structure; hence saccate.
saprophyte: a plant that obtains its food from dead organic matter; hence saprophytic.
scabrid: rough to the touch because of minute harsh projections; dimin. scaberulous, scabridulous. Fig. 42: Uncinia scabra —utricle.
scale: any small, ± leaf-like organ, often dry and membranous. Fig. 5: Collospermum —scale borne on lf; Fig. 12: Juncus —sheathing scale-lvs.
scandent: climbing, us. without special climbing organs.
scarious: very thin, dry and ± translucent.
sclerenchyma: a tissue of thick-walled cells.
scorpioid: of a cymose infl. with the young axis coiled like the tail of a scorpion.
scree: loose, ± moving, stony debris.
sectile: as though cut into portions, as the pollen of some orchids. Fig. 30: Prasophyllum colensoi —pollen-masses. Fig. 36: Yoania australis —pollen-masses.
secund: one-sided, with all the fls, lvs or other parts appearing to be arranged along one side of the axis.
seed: the reproductive body formed from a fertilized ovule.
segment: an individual free part of an organ.
sepal: one separate part of a calyx of free members, especially when green and ± leaf-like; hence sepaloid.
septicidal: dividing along a septum; of dehiscence by the breaking apart of the fused carpel walls that form the septa between loculi.
septum: a partition or cross-wall; pl. septa; hence septate, divided by partitions.
seriate: arranged in series.
serrate: sharply toothed, with the teeth pointing forward; hence serrature; dimin. serrulate.
sessile: without a stalk.
seta: a fine bristle-like structure; hence setaceous, setose; dimin. setulose.
sheath: a ± tubular structure enclosing an organ or part, as the sheath of a grass lf.
shrub: a woody plant of not very large size and lacking a distinct trunk.
sigmoid: curved like a S.
simple: not divided into several ± similar separate parts; contrasted with compound.
sinuous: shallowly curved.
sinus: a re-entering angle or recess, often between two lobes or segments.
spadix: a spicate infl. with relatively bulky, often succulent axis, us. subtended by a spathe.
spathe: a large bract ± enclosing an infl., often coloured when surrounding a spadix; hence spathaceous.
spathulate: spoon-shaped.
spike: an unbranched, ± elongate, indeterminate infl. with sessile fls or spikelets, those at the base the oldest; hence spicate. Fig. 41: Uncinia.
spikelet: a small spike, sts including only one fl. Fig. 38: Uncinia, Carex —one-fld spikelets.
spine: a stout woody process with sharp point; hence spinose, spinous; dimin. spinulose.
spur: a sac or tubular part, often nectar-secreting, of a petal or sepal; hence spurred.
stamen: a pollen-bearing organ, composed of an anther with pollen-sacs and its supporting stalk or filament; hence staminate, of fls with stamens but without functional carpels, i.e. male.
staminode: a barren stamen, us. lacking an anther, and sts petaloid. Fig. 9: Collospermum microspermum —in female fl.
stellate: star-shaped.
sterile: not producing seed, spores or pollen capable of germination.
stigma: the part of the carpel that is receptive to pollen, us. found at or near the tip of the style; hence stigmatic, stigmatose.
stipe: a stalk; hence stipitate.
stipule: one of a pair of scale-like or lf-like appendages at the base of a petiole, sts ± adnate to the petiole, sts connate with the stipule of the opp. lf; hence stipulate.
stolon: a stem, ± horizontal or arched or running along the ground, rooting and us. capable of forming a new plant at its tip; hence stoloniferous.
stoma: a pore in the epidermis, us. of distinctive shape, through which gases diffuse; pl. stomata.
stria: a fine longitudinal line or minute ridge; pl. striae; hence striate.
strict: upright, straight, ± rigid.
struma: a cushion-like swelling on an organ. Fig. 5: Dianella —on stamen.
style: the ± elongated part of the carpel between the ovary and the stigma; hence stylar.
style-base: enlarged base of style which becomes hard and persistent in some genera of Cyperaceae. Fig. 39: Tetraria, Lepidosperma.
sub-: prefix meaning somewhat, slightly, or not quite, e.g. subsessile.
submersed: growing under water.
subtend: stand below but us. close to another organ, as a bract to its fl. Fig. 43: Carex —in infls, bracts subtend spikes.
substratum: the underlying layer; the base to which a plant is fixed.
subulate: tapering from a wider base to a sharp apex, ± circular in T. S.; from subula, an awl.
sulcate: with longitudinal grooves, less pronounced than furrowed.
summergreen: green in summer, the aerial parts dying away before winter.
superior: situated above another part; a calyx is superior when it appears to spring from the top of the ovary; an ovary is superior when it is free from the receptacle, with the perianth and stamens inserted below or around it.
superposed: vertically over some other part. Fig. 16: Centrolepis ciliata —female fls.
sward: short ground cover, with lawn-like appearance.
sympodium: an axis made up of the basal portions of several branches; the apex of each branch either dies or ends in an infl. while growth is continued by the activity of an axillary bud; hence sympodial. Fig. 12: Juncus.
syncarpous: having the carpels united to one another.
syntype: one of two or more specimens used by the author when no holotype was designated, or one of two or more specimens simultaneously designated as type.
tabular: in thin plates.
taxon: a taxonomic group of any rank, e.g. family, genus, species, variety, etc.; pl. taxa.
tendril: a slender twining part of a climbing plant formed from the whole or part of a stem or lf.
tepal: an individual member of the perianth.
terete: circular in T.S.; either narrowly cylindrical or ±tapering.
terminal: borne at the end of a stem and limiting its growth.
ternate: arranged in or divided into three.
testa: the outer coat of a seed.
tetra-: prefix meaning four.
tetrad: a group of four.
tetragonous: four-angled; of a solid body, four-sided in section, with the angles rounded.
tetramerous: with organs or parts in fours.
tiller: a side shoot, as in grasses.
tricuspid: three-toothed.
trifid: three-cleft.
trigonous: of a solid body triangular in T.S. with the angles rounded.
trilocular: having three locules. Fig. 8: Astelia banksii, Astelia nervosa —ovaries.
trimerous: with organs or parts in threes.
triquetrous: of a solid body triangular in T.S. with angles sharp, faces ± concave.
triseptate: having three septa; in Juncus, dividing the cavity of the ovary incompletely.
tristichous: in three vertical ranks.
trulliform: shaped like a brick-layer's trowel. Fig. 28: Pterostylis —lower cauline lvs.
truncate: appearing as though cut squarely across. Fig. 26: Thelymitra hatchii —top of column.
tuber: a thickened, us. subterranean part of a stem or root, often asymmetrically swollen; hence tuberous.
tubercle: a small wart-like swelling; hence tuberculate.
tunic: a loose membrane investing a corm or bulb; hence tunicated.
turbinate: top-shaped.
turgid: distended through internal pressure.
type: a nomenclatural type is that constituent element of a taxon to which the name of the taxon is permanently attached.
type species: the species on which the genus is based.
type specimen: the single specimen to which the name of a species or of a taxon below the rank of species is permanently attached.
type variety: the variety including the type of the species.
umbonate: bearing a protuberance in the centre.
undulate: waved in a plane at right angles to the surface. Fig. 24: Corybas rivularis —lf-margin.
unguiculate: contracted at the base into a claw. Fig. 17: Libertia —inner tepals; Fig. 30: Prasophyllum —labellum.
unilocular: having a single cavity. Fig. 8: Astelia subulata, A. solandri —T.S. ovaries.
uniseriate: arranged in a single row or series.
unisexual: of one sex only.
unispicate: having a single spike. Fig. 43: Subgenus Primocarex.
unitubular: having a single tube. Fig. 12: Juncus Sect. Septati —lower of the two drawings of lvs.
urceolate: hollow, swollen in lower part and contracted towards the mouth. Fig. 38: Carex —utricle.
utricle: a thin, loose but rather hard, cover enveloping some frs. Fig. 38. Uncinia, Carex.
valve: a door-like, often separable part: hence valvate, valved. Fig. 17: Libertia —3-valved capsules.
vascular: furnished with specialized conducting tissues.
vein: a strand of conducting and us. strengthening tissue in a lf or similar structure; dimin. veinlet; in monocotyledons this term is commonly preferred for transverse strands, the longitudinal ones being called nerves.
venation: the arrangement of the veins.
vermiform: worm-shaped.
verrucose: marked with small wart-like excrescences.
versatile: of anthers attached to the filament at or near the middle and able to move freely. Fig.8: Astelia fragrans; Fig. 16: Centrolepis ciliata.
vestigial: small and imperfectly developed.
villous: clad in long soft hairs not matted together.
viscidium: a viscid or sticky area associated with the rostellum of an orchid fl.
vivipar: a young plant produced by the sprouting of a bud or seed while still attached to the parent plant.
whorl: an arrangement of three or more parts or organs at the same level round an axis; hence whorled. Fig.2: Potamogeton pectinatus —fls on infl.
wing: a thin membranous expansion of an organ or part.
zygomorphic: having only one plane of symmetry. Fig. 20: Orthoceras —perianth.
