Glossary of Terms Describing Wildflowers - Page 3



Term Definition
petiole A leaf stalk arrangement.
pinnate Feather formed; of a compound leaf in which the leaflets are place on each side of the common axis.
raceme An unbranched, cluster of flowers with the oldest flowers at the base. up.
rhizome Creeping underground stems.
scalloped Curved projections with sharp depressions on edge of a leaf.
sepal A member of the outside ring of a modified flower leaves, usually green.
sessile Arrangement of plant without a stalk.
shrub Woody plant, branched from the base.
spike Unbranched inflorescence with sessile flowers.
Stalk Secondary stem, often referring to the structure supporting the flower.
stolon Elongated stem lying along the ground (runner), forms new roots and stems.
subalpine Area just below the timberline.
teeth Alternating projections and indentations on the edge of a leaf.
twig In woody plants, the smallest segment, produced during the last growing season.
umbrel Inflorescence with three of more stalks radiating from a common point.
vein Vessels by which water and nutrients are transported. Often seen in leaves.
whorl An arrangement in rings of three or more.