INL Common Plants and Anatomy

All plant parts and common plants of Idaho sagebrush

Sepal

• typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and support for petals when they bloom

• collectively known as the calyx

Petal

• modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers

• often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators

Stamen

• flower part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower

Pistil

• the female organs of a flower, comprising the stigma, style, and ovary

Banner

• the topmost, relatively large, upright flower petal

• pea family

Wings

• Either of the two lateral petals of a flower of Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Keel

• the lower part of a papilionaceous flower (as of a pea or bean plant) that consists of two fused petals

• lies between the wings

Spur

• hollow extension of a part of a flower

• may arise from various parts of the flower (sepals, petals, or hypanthium)

• often contain tissues that secrete nectar

Calyx

• outer segment of the perianth that encloses and protects the petals and other floral parts when the flower is in bud

• opens and clasps, spreads, and/or droops as the flower develops

• individual parts = sepals

Pedicel

• the stem of a single flower

• If a flower has no stem it is said to be "sessile"

Throat

• A tubular corolla's slightly/significantly bulged or widened section

• found between the evenly elongated tube and the limb

Capitulum

• a compact influorescence that flowers in Asteraceae (Daisy Family) are borne into

• superficially resembles a single flower

• individual flowers sometimes referred to as florets

radiate

• type of capitulum

• central disk flowers and peripheral ray flowers

discoid

• type of capitulum

• disk flowers only

ligulate

• type of capitulum

• ray flowers only

Phyllaries

• In Asteraceae, the involucral flower head bracts (modified leaves that encase/subtend flower)

Spike

• elongated type of inflorescence in which each flower is sessile (attached to stem directly w/o pedicel)

Raceme

• elongated type of inflorescence with individual flowers attached to a central stalk by a flower stem (pedicel)

Corymb

• type of spreading, racemose inflorescence (often flat-topped, sometimes rounded)

• each flower stem (pedicel) originates from a different point on the main flower stem

• lower pedicels are longer than upper ones

Panicle

• type of inflorescence in which branched flower stalks are attached to the main flower stem

Cyme

• inflorescence in which flower stalks emerge from a single point

• Pedicels of a single flower alternate with peduncles of several flowers

• Terminal flowers bloom first

Solitary

• a type of inflorescence made up of only a single flower

• no clustering at all

Umbel

• type of inflorescence in which each pedicel/peduncle grows upward and outward from one point

• the same manner the spokes of an umbrella spread upward and outward from the umbrella main stem

Helicoid Cyme

• an inflorescence, or cyme, in which each flowering branch gives rise to one lateral branch that is coiled snail-like and then expanded

Peduncle

• The common stalk of a cluster of flowers

• 1st: very first, newly formed, or inaugural, blooming stalk a plant produces

Bracts

• Modified leaves/very small leaf-like growths

• Some encase the flower and then subtend the flower after the flower opens

• all of the ones that subtend the flower = involucre

Pedunculate

• a structure that has a peduncle (a stalk or stem) or is attached to another structure by a peduncle

Basal rosette leaves

• dense cluster of leaves at the base of a plant

Tepals

• a segment of the outer whorl in a flower that has no differentiation between petals and sepals

Involucre

• The cluster of bracts that subtends a flower

Petiole

• The stem of a leaf

Internode

• the interval on the stem between the nodes

Axil

• the angle between the stem and the leaf, or another organ which arises from the stem, such as a bract

Node

• The point at which there is an attached growth, as in the place where each leaf is attached

Midrib

• main vascular structure running through the center of a leaf (primary vein)

Edge

• outer margin of the leaf

Stipule

• Appendage at the base of the leaf, which may be leaf-like, spines, or reduced/absent

Clasping leaves

• structural attachment type

Petiolate leaves

• structural attachment type

Spiny-winged stem

• structural attachment type

Sessile leaves

• structural attachment type

axillary flowers

• structural attachment type

fascicle leaves

• structural attachment type

Lance shaped

• entire edge OR pinnately divided edge

Linear shaped

• entire edge

Elliptic shaped

• Pinnatifid edge or bipinnately divided edge

Ovate shaped

• Pedate edge

Palmately shaped

spikelet

• the basic unit of a grass flower, consisting of two glumes or outer bracts at the base and one or more florets above

glume

• the bract below a spikelet in the inflorescence of grasses

floret

• one of the small flowers forming the head of a composite plant

lemma

• One of the specialized larger, outer bracts around the floret in grasses

palea

• the smaller, inner upper bract of the floret of a grass

lodicule

• a small green or white scale below the ovary of a grass flower

culm

• the hollow stem of a grass or cereal plant, especially that bearing the flower

blade

• the flat, expanded part of a leaf that is primarily responsible for photosynthesis

ligule

• a membranous scale on the inner side of the leaf sheath at its junction with the blade in most grasses and sedges

auricle

• a small ear-like projection from the base of a leaf or petal

sheath

• the basal part of a grass leaf that encircles the stem

awn

• a hairy or bristle-like growth on a plant

• on seeds of grasses → form foxtails which assist seed dispersal by being barbed and sticking to passing animals

pappus

• the tuft of hairs on each seed of thistles, dandelions, and similar plants, which assists dispersal by the wind

beak

• a rigid, usually firm, and tapering projection or tip found on certain plant structures, particularly seeds and fruits

• often a prolongation of the ovary or style that remains after fertilization

achene

• type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants

• contain a single seed that nearly fills the pericarp, but does not adhere to it

capsule

• a type of simple, dry or (rarely) fleshy fruit which splits open on maturity

septum

• A wall-like partition of a locule of an ovary that divides the ovary into chambers called locules

silicle

• a type of fruit having two fused carpels with the length being more than three times the width

chamber

• the locule, such as that of an ovary or fruit, that contains the ovule(s) or seed(s), respectively

Forbs

• Plants that lack woody stems and are not grasses, sedges, or rushes

• plants with soft, flexible, aboveground structures

• include all herbaceous species that do not exhibit a grass-like growth form and are often referred to as wildflowers or herbs

ALAC

• Hooker’s Onion

• Lily family

ALDE

• Desert alyssum

• Mustard family

• INTRODUCED

ALLE

• Sand gilia

• Phlox family

ALLO

• Lott’s gilia

• Phlox family

ALTE

• Textile onion

• Lily family

ARCO

• Sagebrush rockcress

• Mustard family

ARFR

• Franklin’s sandwort

• Pink family

ARHO

• Holboell’s rockcress

• Mustard family

ARLI

• Woody-branched rockcress

• Mustard family

ASCA

• Torrey’s milkvetch

• Pea family

ASCE

• Painted milkvetch

• Pea family

ASCU

• Curvepod milkvetch

• Pea family

ASFI

• Basalt milkvetch

• Pea family

ASLE

• Freckled milkvetch

• Pea family

ASPU

• Woollypod milkvetch

• Pea family

BASA

• Arrowleaf balsamroot

• Sunflower family

BASC

• Kochia

• Goosefoot family

• INTRODUCED

CAAN

• Northwest Indian paintbrush

• Figwort family

CABR

• Bruneau mariposa lily

• Lily family

CAMI

• Small evening primrose

• Evening-primrose family

CANU

• Musk thistle

• Sunflower family

• NOXIOUS

CHDO

• Douglas’ dustymaiden

• Sunflower family

CHJU

• Rush skeletonweed

• Sunflower family

• NOXIOUS

CHLE

• Narrowleaf goosefoot

• Goosefoot family

CIAR

• Canada thistle

• Sunflower family

• NOXIOUS

CISU

• Jackson hole thistle

• Sunflower family

CORA

• Bushy bird’s beak

• Figwort family

COUM

• Bastard toadflax

• Sandalwood family

CRAC

• Tapertip hawksbeard

• Sunflower family

CRCI

• Cushion cryptantha

• Forget-me-not family

CRIN

• Elko cryptantha

• Forget-me-not family

CRSC

• Desert cryptantha

• Forget-me-not family