Botanical Terms

Definitions

Botanical terms cited in the species descritions on this website are given as
links to the following definitions or lengthier explanations. More will be added
as new species descriptions are added to the website.
actinomorphic
acuminate
acute
aristate
asymmetry
auriculate
bilateral
biradial
banner
bisexual
bract
calyx
capitulum
capsule
carpel
cleft
complete
compound
corolla
corymb
cosmopolitan
crenate
cuneate
cuneiform
cordate
cuspidate
cyme
decompound
dehiscent
dentate
determinate
divided
disc flowers
discoid
dioecious
disjunct
drupe
emarginate
endemic
entire
ericoid leaves
fringed
glabrous
glaucous
hastate
hermaphroditic
hypanthicum
imperfect
incised
indeterminate
irregular
keel
labellum
lanceolate
legume
ligulate
linear
lip
lobed
loment
monoecious
mucronate
oblanceolate
obovate
orbicular
ovate
obcordatc
obtuse
oval
palmate
papilionaceous
parted
peltate
perianth
petal
perfect
pinnate
pinnate vein
pistil
polygamous
ray flowers
raceme
radial symmetry
radiate
regular
reniform
reniform
repand
retuse
rhizome
rootstalk
sagittate
secund
sepal
serrate
simple
sinuate
spatulate
spur
stamen
standard
stipule
tendril
truncate
tepal
tormentose
umbel
undulate
unilateral
unisexual
wings
zygomorphic

Pages from Gray's Lessons in Botany

Asa Gray's classic lessons offer clear and succinct introductions to key terms
used in specimen description and identification.