Introduction - Species Plantarum Programme

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SPECIES PLANTARUM — FLORA OF THE WORLD (1999)
autapomorphic: of a character, derived and unique to a given taxon or monophyletic group.
autochthonous: of the inhabitants of a region, original; earliest known; (applied to an
element of the Australian flora rich in endemics and believed to have been evolving in
Australia for a long period of time).
autotrophic: independent of other organisms in respect of organic nutrition; able to fix
carbon dioxide, by photosynthesis, to form carbohydrates.
auxotelic: applied to inflorescences, parts of inflorescences or to axes that do not end in a
flower, and in which growth continues beyond the flowering region, cf. anauxotelic.
awn: a bristle-like appendage, e.g. on the tip or back of the lemma of a grass floret.
axil: the angle between a leaf or bract and the axis bearing it. adj. axillary.
axile: on an axis; of a placenta, on the central axis of the ovary.
axis: a stem, (commonly used for the main stem of a whole plant or of an inflorescence).
baccate: berry-like; of seeds, having a succulent or pulpy testa; of fruits, having the seeds
embedded in pulp.
barbellae: short, straight, stiff hairs or barbs.
barbulae: in Scaevola (Goodeniaceae), outgrowths on the margin of the wings or in the
throat of the corolla, sometimes with apical hairs or papillae.
basal: at the base; of a placenta, at the base of the ovary.
basifixed: attached at or by the base, e.g. of anthers, by the base of the connective. cf.
medifixed, versatile.
basipetal: developing, in sequence, from the apex towards the base. cf. acropetal.
basiscopic: of the first lateral vein of a leaflet on the side nearer the leaf base, pointing
towards the base.
basitonic: of flowering seasonal growth units (seasonal shoots), producing no leaves (but
sometimes some bracts) below the inflorescence, cf. acrotonic.
beak: a prominent terminal projection, especially of a carpel or fruit.
berry: a fleshy or pulpy indehiscent fruit with the seed(s) embedded in the fleshy tissue of
the pericarp. cf. drupe, pyrene.
biennial: a plant whose life span extends for more than one but less than two years after
germination.
bifacial: of leaves, flat or channelled with distinct adaxial and abaxial surfaces.
bifid: divided, for about half the length, into two parts. cf. bipartite.
bifoliate: of plants, having two leaves.
bifoliolate: of leaves, having two leaflets.
bigeminate: in two pairs; of pinnate leaves, having only two pairs of pinnae.
bilabiate: two-lipped, e.g. of a corolla in which fusion of an anterior group and a posterior
group of petals extends beyond the top of the corolla tube.
bilamellate: consisting of two plates or lamellae.
bilocular: having two cavities.
bipartite: divided, nearly to the base, into two parts. cf. bifid.
bipinnate: of leaves, twice pinnately divided. cf. pinnate, tripinnate.