Glossary of Descriptive Terms

Calyx = Used for united sepals on a flower. See Parts of a Flower.

Corolla = Used for united petals on a flower. See Parts of a Flower.

Corona = The corona is an extra whorl of flower parts between the petals and the

stamens. This is common in daffodils (Narcissus) and can be short or long

depending on the type of daffodil. It is also present in Chionodoxa.

Cultivar = Cultivated variety; defined in the International Code of Nomenclature for

Cultivated Plants. A cultivar is a plant that is clearly distinguished by any

characters, and which, when propagated or reproduced by any means (sexual or

asexual), retains its distinguishing characters. Cultivars are selected in cultivated

areas, while botanical varieties are selected in the wild. See Cultivars and Ranks of

Taxa.

Dioecious = Dioecious plants have male (staminate) flowers one plant, and

female (pistillate) flowers on another plant. See Monoecious and Dioecious Plants.

Glabrous = Smooth.

Hypanthium = A floral cup or tube to which the flower parts are attached. Common

in the Family Rosaceae. See Rosaceae introduction.

Inflorescence = Refers to the entire flower cluster or group of flower clusters. There

are botanical terms for different shapes or types or flower cluster branching (ex. spike,

panicle, umbel). Only specific ones like umbel are required, since it is unique to

the Family Araliaceae and Family Umbelliferae or Apiaceae.

Internode = The part of the stem between the nodes where the leaves are attached.

Monoecious = Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers on the

same plant. See Monoecious and Dioecious Plants.

Monotypic = Refers to only one, as in a monotypic genus (has only one species), or

in a monotypic family (has only one genus).

Node = The point on the stem where the leaf or leaf stalk is attached. See also

Internode above.

Pedicel or Peduncle = Used for the stalk of a flower or fruit. Sometimes branched

stalks of fruit are persistent and have ornamental value.

Petiole = The leaf stalk that connects the leaf to the stem. For plants with no

leaf stalk, see Sessile below.

Pubescent or pubescence = Hairy or with some hairs. There are many botanical

terms for types of pubescence (ex. hairy, hirsute, villous).

Sessile = Leaves without a leaf stalk. Leaves are attached directly to the stem or

appear like they do.

Spines, Thorns, or Prickles = Spines, thorns, and prickles are not distinguished from

each other in this class. The difference has to do with which plant tissue they

originated from.

Taxon or Taxa (plural) = General term for a plant name at any level (genus, family,

species, etc.)

Tepal = A term used when petals and sepals are indistinguishable from each other.

This is used with plants like tulips (Tulipa) and magnolias (Magnolia).

Variety = Name for a botanical variety, but often used loosely for a botanical variety

or a cultivated variety (cultivar). A botanical variety is used for a variant of the species

such as a name for a white flowered form of a blue flowered plant. Botanical varieties

are selected in the wild, while cultivar are selected in cultivated areas. See Cultivars

and Ranks of Taxa.