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ANNUAL PLANTS spring
from the seed, make their full growth
and then die at the end of a season.
A BIENNIAL PLANT
does not flower the first year, but produces leaves only. The second year of
its growth it flowers, after which it dies. The carrot and parsnip are examples
of biennials
A PERENNIAL PLANT
lives for more than two years. If the plant retains its leaves during the
winter, it is known as an EVERGREEN; if
the leaves fall upon the approach of cold weather, it is said to be DECIDUOUS.
AN HERB is a plant
having a soft stem which dies down to the ground after the plant has reached it
full growth.
A SHRUB is a plant
which has a woody stem, grows to a height of twenty-five to thirty feet or
less, and branches near the ground.
A TREE has
a woody stem, is higher than a shrub and does NOT branch near the ground.
A STOLON is
a form of a branch which curves or falls down to the ground, where they often
strike root.
A CLIMBING PLANT is
any plant using an external support to raise itself above the ground. The term “vine”
is used for certain climbing plants.
A SUCKER is a branch of
subterraneous origin, which, after running horizontally and emitting roots in
its course, at length rises out of the
ground and forms an erect stem, which soon becomes an independent plant. Examples are roses, raspberries, mints.
A RUNNER is a
prostrate, slender branch sent off from the base of the parent stem.
An OFFSET is a
similar but shorter branch, with a tuft of leaves at the end, as in the
house-leek.
A SPINE is a short and imperfectly developed branch
of a woody plant, as exhibited in the honey-locust.
A TENDRIL is
commonly a slender leafless branch, capable of coiling spirally, like
grapevines.
WHORLED several stems, leaves or flowers, arising in
a ring around the stem.
THE ROOTS
Definition of The ROOT. The ROOT of a plant is that portion which
is usually found in the earth, the stem and leaves being in the air. The point of union is called the collar or
neck of the plant.
ADVENTITIOUS ROOT is a root developing on a part of a plant
(stem) other than a root.
ANTHROPOMORPHIC shaped like a human being
AREIAL ROOTS are
those emitted from the stem into the open air.
A BULB is an extremely abbreviated stem clothed with
scales, such as a lily.
A CORM swollen base of a stem, not consisting of
layers.
A CONICAL ROOT is one where it tapers regularly
from the crown to the apex, as that of a carrot.
A FASCICULATED ROOT is a root where some of the fibers or branches
are thickened.
The FIBROUS ROOT is one composed of many spreading branches.
A FUSIFORM ROOT
is a root that tapers up as well as down, such as the radish.
A NAPIFORM ROOT is more swollen at the base, and
becomes broader rather than long, such as a turnip.
A PALMATE ROOT is when these knobs are branched.
A RHIZOME, swollen underground stem lasting more
than one year
ROOT STOCK swollen underground part of a plant.
TAPROOT is the main root
A TUBER swollen underground portion of a root or
stem.
A TUBERIFEROUS ROOT is
when some of the branches assume the form of a rounded knob, such as the
potato.
THE STEM
Definition of STEM: The
STEM is that portion of the plant which grows in an opposite direction
from the root, seeing the light and exposing itself to the air.
All flowering plants posses stems.
The stem of an herb
does not become woody, but dies down to the ground at least after flowering.
The stem of
tree is usually called the trunk.
The stem in grasses
is the cuim.
Those stems which are too weak
to stand erect are said to be decumbent, procumbent and prostrate.
THE LEAF
The leaf is commonly raised on an unexpanded part or stalk
which is call the petiole, while the
expanded portion is termed the lamina, limb or
blade. When the vessels or fibers of the leaves expand immediately
on leaving the stem, the leaf is said to be sessile.
In such cases the petiole is absent. When the blade consists of a single piece,
the leaf is simple; when composed of
two or three more with a branched petiole, the leaf is compound.
The distribution of the veins or framework of the leaf in the
blade is termed venation.
A linear leaf is an
elongated shape with nearly parallel sides.
A lanceolate leaf has the form of a lance ; wide in the middle and gradually
tapering at each end.
An ovate leaf is oval
shaped.
an obovate leaf is one having the veins more developed beyond
the middle of the blade.
A cuneiform ( or cuneate) leaf is wedge shaped
A cordate leaf is
heart shaped
A reniform is kidney
shaped
A sagittate leaf is
arrow shaped
A hastate leaf
is shaped like the head of a spear with sharp basal lobes spreading away
from the base of the petiole
A peltate leaf is shaped like a shield
A serrate leaf is one in which the margin is beset with
sharp teeth, which point forward towards the apex.
A dentate leaf these teeth are NOT directed towards the
apex
A crenate leaf has
rounded teeth
A sinuate leaf has
alternate concavities and convexities (wavy)
a pinnate leaf is
shaped like a feather
a pectinate leaf has very close and narrow divisions, like the
teeth of a comb.
A lyrate leaf has the
shape of a lyre
A runcinate leaf
is a lyrate leaf with sharp lobes
pointing towards the base, like a dandelion leave.
A palmate leaf
resembles the hand
a pedate leaf looks like a bird's foot
leaves which arise directly from a rootstock, not from an
aerial stem are said to be radical
Rosette leaves are
clustered at ground level
Sessil leaves have no stalk
Truncate leaves are cut off straight across.
When a leaf at its outer edge has no dentations it is said to
be entire.
When the leaf terminates in an acute angle it is acute, when in an obuse angle it is obtuse.
An obtuse leaf with the apex slightly depressed is retuse, or if more strongly notched emarginate.
An obovate leaf with a wider or more conspicuous notch at the
apex becomes obcordate, being a cordate leaf inverted.
When the apex is cut off by a straight transverse line the
leaf is truncate, when abruptly
terminated by a small projecting point
it is mucronate; and when an acute leaf
has a narrowed apex it is acuminate.
In ferns the leaves are called fronds.
FLOWERS
The organs of a flower are of two
sorts.
1)
the leaves ( or
envelopes).
2)
Those peculiar organs
having no resemblance to the envelopes.
The envelopes are of two kinds (or
occupy two rows, one above or within the other) :
1)
the lower or outer row is termed the Calyx, and commonly exhibits the
green color of the leaves.
2)
the inner row, which is usually of more delicate texture and forms the
most showy part of the flower, is termed the Corolla.
The several parts of the leaves of the
Corolla are called Petals, and the leaves of the Calyx are also called Sepals.
The floral envelopes are
collectively called the Perianth.
The essential organs enclosed
within a floral envelope are also of two kinds and occupy two rows one within the
other. The first of these, those next within the petals, are the Stamens. A
stamen consists of a stalk called the Filament, which bears on its summit a
rounded body termed the Anther, filled with a substance called the Pollen.
The seed bearing organs occupy the
center or summit of a flower, and are called Pistils. A pistil is distinguished into three parts;
1)
the ovary containing the ovales (ovule)
2)
the style, or columnar prolongation of the ovary
3)
the stigma or
termination of the style.
All the organs of the flower are
situated on, or grow out of the apex of the flower stalk, into which they are
inserted and which is called the Torus or Receptacle.
A plant is said to be monoecious,
where the stamens and pistils are in separate flowers on the same individual ,
dioecious, where they occupy separate flowers on different individuals, and
polygamous where the stamens and pistils are separate in some flowers and
untied in others, either on the same or two or three different plants.
