Plant Identification Vocabulary

Radial

• Can be divided into equal halves through multiple planes

Bilateral

• can be divided into one plane

pedicel

• small stalk that attaches the a single flower to main stem or branch of an inflorescence

receptacle

• Holds the sepal, petals, stamens, and carpels/ pistils

perianth

• non reproductive outer part of flower that surrounds and protects the inner sexual organs

• petal and sepal

sepal

• leaf like part at base of a flower that protects an unopened bud

• supports open flower or developing fruit

calyx

• Outermost whorl of a flower that consists of sepals

petals

• surround flowers reproductive parts to attract pollinators

corolla

• all the petals in a flower

tepal

• outer part of flower when petals and sepals cannot be easily separated and look identical

androecium

• all male reproductive organs (stamens) in a single flower

stamen

• male reproductive organ that produces pollen

• Parts: anther and filament

anther

• on top of filament

• creates and stores pollen

filament

• supports anther

• 
  

pollen

• Carries male genetic material needed for plant reproduction

gynoecium

• innermost female reproductive whorl of a flowering plant

pistil

• female reproductive part that produces seeds

• main parts: stigma, style and ovary

stigma

• reproductive organ that catches pollen

style

• connects the stigma to the base of the ovary

Ovary

• Enlarged lower part of the flowers pistils that hold unfertilized seeds or ovules

Ovule

• inside flowers ovary that produces egg cells and develops into seed after fertilization

herb

• seed producing annual, biennial and perennial plant

• does not develop woody tissue

• (small plants without woody stem)

shrub

• medium, bushy plants with multiple woody stems, arising at ground plant

tree

• tall, perennial plants with a single a single woody stem or trunk

vine

• plant with elongate weak stems

• herbaceous or woody

• annual or perennial

inflorescence

• cluster of flowers arranged on a main stem

node

• points on a stem where leaves, buds, and branches originate

internode

• segment of a plant stem located between two successive nodes

bud

• undeveloped shoot consisting of a growth point surrounded by protective scales

rhizome

• Horizontal underground stem that sends out both roots and shoots

stolon

plant stems that grow at the soil surface

basal leaves

• leaves that cluster at the bottom of a plant stem

alternate leaf arrangment

opposite leaf arrangement

Whorled leaf arrangement

pinnate venation

• veins extend from midrib to edges of the leaf

palmate venation

• veins radiate outstretched from leaf petiole

parallel venation

• veins run parallel to each other within a lamina

blade

• wide, flat part of a plant leaf that catches sunlight for photosynthesis

leaflet

• small, leaf-like subunit that makes up a larger compound leaf

petiole

• small stalk that connect a leafs blade to the main stem of the plant

stipules

• small appendage found at the base of a leaf stalk where it connected the plant stem

vein

• provides strength and structure to the leaf

compound leaf type

• split into smaller parts called leaflets

simple leaf type

• single undivided or lobed blade attached to the stem

palmately compound

• has multiple smaller sections called leaflets

pinnately compound

• single leaf whose main blade is divided into multiple leaflets

cordate leaf shape

• heart shaped with pointed tip at the apex

elliptic leaf shape

• oval form that is widest at middle and tapers at tip and base

lanceolate leaf shape

• longer than it is wide

cuneate leaf base

• narrow, wedge shaped bottom section of a leaf blade that tapers evenly toward the point of attachment

rounded leaf base

• bottom edge is rounded

sheathing leaf base

• expanded lower part of a leaf that wraps around, clasps or completely encircles the plant stem like a tube

acuminate leaf apex

• leaf tip that gradually tapers into a long, drawn out and sharp point

acute lead apex

• leaf tip tapers sharp, pointed end where the two sides meet at an angle of less than 90 degrees

rounded leaf apex

• tip rounded with no sharp point

crenate leaf margin

• an edge featuring shallow, blunt, or rounded teeth

dentate leaf margin

• edges with sharp teeth

entire leaf margin

• smooth edges with no teeth

serrate leaf margin

• edges of a leaf that has sharp, saw-like teeth pointing forward toward the apex of the leaf

toothed leaf margin

• edges have small, sharp, or rounded projections resembling teeth

lobed leaf margin

• outer leaf edge divided into lobes and sinuses

glabrous vestiture

• plant surface is smooth, bare and hairless

pubescent vestiture

• soft, small fine hairs

tomentose

• dense, matted, interwoven hairs