Fabaceae / Papilionaceae

Glossary of Botany Terms
Introduced A plant brought into a region where it is not native.
Involucre A collection of bracts usually present near the flower base, e.g.
Vernonia.
L
Lacticiferous Latex producing
Lamina
Expanded or green portion of a leaf.
Lanceolate
apex.
Leaf shape that widens above the base and tapers towards the
Lateral Occurring on a side.
Latex The milky juice of plants such as the Calotropis procera and
Euphorbia caducifolia.
Leaflet A leaf-like unit of compound leaf, e.g. Acacia.
Lemma Term used for part of grass flowers.
Ligulate A strap-shaped leaf or petal.
Linear Long and narrow as in grass leaf.
M
Mericarp A carpel with one seed.
Mesophytic Plants growing to moderate moisture.
Midrib A central leaf vein.
Monoecious A species having male and female reproductive part on a same
plant.
Mucilage A viscous slimy material exuded by certain plants.
Muricate Rough with short hard points.
N
Native Naturally occurring in a region, not introduced.
Naturalized A species introduced from another region, now fully established and
reproducing naturally.
Nocturnal Flowers that open during the night.
Node Part of a stem where leaf arises.
Nut A hard indehiscent one-seeded fruit, resulting from a compound
ovary.
O
Ochreae A pair of stipules united about a stem.
Oblong Two or three times as long as broad.
Ob-ovate Egg shaped leaf shape in outline, with the broader end towards
apex and narrower towards the base.
Obtuse Blunt or rounded at the apex.
Operculum
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A part serving as a lid or cover, as a covering flap on a seed vessel.