Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

Glossary of Botany Terms
F
Family
species.
A unit of conventional classification composed by related genera and
Fascicle Clustered together in groups.
Fastigiate Refers to branches clustered, parallel and erect.
Fern Group of plants without flowers (stamen and carpels).
Filament The stalk of stamen.
Fissure A long, narrow crack or opening.
Frond Term applies to leaf-like structures of ferns.
Funnel form Funnel-shaped: calyx/corolla tube gradually widening upwards. e.g.
Convolvulus spp.
G
Geniculate Bent abruptly like a knee.
Genus Unit of classification consisting of a group of species exhibiting
similar characteristics.
Glabrous Smooth, without any hairs.
Glandular Bearing secreting glands or hairs.
Globose Nearly spherical.
Glume One of the two chaffy basal bracts of a grass spikelet.
Gregarious Growing in open clusters or colonies; not matted together.
Gynoecium A collective term for the carpels, i.e, the female part of the
flower.
H
Habitat Particular location where plant usually grows.
Halophytic Growing in saline habitat.
Head A short dense aggregate. As a collection of flowers in sunflower
family.
Herb A plant that is not woody.
Hirsute With rough or coarse hairs.
Hispid Having stiff or bristly hairs.
Hydrophytic Growing near and in the water.
I
Imparipinnate A term applied to compound leaf when petiole is terminated by a
single leaflet e.g, Neem or tendril as in Pea.
Indehiscent Not splitting or not opening at all.
Inferior Term applied to flower when ovary is borne below the sepals, petals
and stamens.
Inflorescence Arrangement of flowers on the plant.
Internode The interval between two nodes.
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