Native Plants
Glossary of commonly used botanical terms and their definitions.
term | definition | image |
Bilateral symmetry | Usually referencing flower structure, descripes a plant part or parts that may be divided along a single plane forming two mirror-image halves; zygomorphic, irregular flower. | |
Bipinnate | Twice-pinnate. | |
Bisexual | A flower with both stamens and pistils. | |
Bract | A reduced or modified leaf occurring at the base of a flower or group of flowers. Bracts are sometimes arranged in rows, like shingles on a roof, usually closely cupping the blossoms of Asteraceae (Sunflower Family); cf. Phyllary. Sometimes brightly colored or petallike, as in Castilleja spp. (paintbrush), or threadlike, as in Daucus carota (Queen Anne's Lace). | |
Branchlet | A small branch. | |
Bristly | Having stiff, rigid, rather thick hairs on the surface of stems or leaves. | |
Bud | A small cell-mass in the process of dividing from a stem to form a flower, leaf or another stem. | |
Bulb | A thick, rounded, underground organ consisting of layered, fleshy leaves and membranes. | |
Cactus/Succulent | A plant having leaves and/or stems which are thick and fleshy. | |
Calyx | The sepals taken collectively. These may be distinct, or joined to form a cup or tube; they may be of any color but are usually green. When the calyx is present, it encloses the other parts of the flower in bud. | |
term | definition | image |