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anther:
check under stamen
aphids:
check under greenfly
aleyrodids:
check under whitefly
bract:
A modified, usually colored, leaf growing near or around a flower and which is more showy than the flower itself. Most common plants that produce bracts are Bougainvilleas and Poinsettias (also commonly known as the Christmas Plant).
bud:
The small protuberance on a stem or branch, sometimes enclosed in protective scales and containing an undeveloped shoot, leaf, or flower.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
carpel:
Carpel is the female reproductive system/ part of a plant: it consists of the stigma - where the pollen is received, the style, where it travels down to the ovary (where the fruit is formed).
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
chlororsis:
The yellowing of leaves and the unhealthy plant condition associated with it; chlorosis refers to the condition caused by nutrient deficiency and not a discoloration or paling caused by pests and bugs.
climbers:
Climbers are pretty much like trailers in that their stems are too weak to support upright growth. However, the one clear distinction between both, is that true climbers possess features that allow them to cling themselves to any available support like wires, canes, walls; these are for instance tendrils or twinging growth habit.
coccoids:
check under mealybug
coco peat:
A soil amendment that is commonly used as a substitute for peat moss and which is made of coconut husks that are the by-product of any industries using coconut. The husks are processed and then compressed into dry bales, briquettes, and slabs. Water must be added before these can be used, and results in the expansion of the dry coco peat. Coco Peat has very low levels of nutrients. Check out this post to read more about mixing potting soil basics.
colored plants:
check under variegation
corolla:
check under petal
cotyledon:
These are the first leaves that appear on a seedling, but they are not to be confused with true leaves: cotyledon develop underground pre-germination, they are contained in the seed; while true leaves develop when the plant emerges from soil post-germination.
direct sowing:
Direct sowing simply refers to the action of growing plants from seed directly in their final destination location, instead of raising them as seedlings in a nursery or indoors and then transplanting. Generally, it is preferable to start seeds indoor or in a nursery where the environment is controlled; however, some plants will not tolerate the root disturbance occurring during transplanting.
dormancy (dormant seeds):
A dormant seed is a viable seed that does not germinate because of a survival mechanism that halts germination until conditions are favorable for survival of the seedling.
Dormancy in nature is affected by a number of means:
seeds are incompletely develped at the time of their shedding and hence require extra time to develop the immature parts, or
seeds possess mechanical moisture barriers (e.g. hard shells on stones in peaches and cherries), or
seeds have an inherent physiological block or germination inhibitor that blocks germination until conditions are favorable.
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ferns:
Ferns are primitive plants that have been around for long ages (as attested by the various fern fossils found throughout the world); as such, they do not produce seeds and do not possess water retaining organs. Ferns propagate by producing dust like spores on the underside of their fronds, and require a high level of humidity and moisture or else they get scorched by dry air.
filament:
check under stamen
flowering plants:
The largest plant family: all types of indoor plants (and most outdoor plants) except for ferns are classed in this family. Flowering plants reproduce chiefly by means of seeds produced from a flower; where it is important to note that although they may be classified as such, most foliage plants will not produce flowers in the home environment. Plants that actually flower indoors are those best adapted to the indoor conditions.
fruit:
A fruit is the ripened, fertilized (hence swollen) ovary of a flower which carries the plant seed. "Vegetable" is not a botanical or horticultural term, but in common language generally refers to the less sweet fruit of a number of plants.
an entry covering the basics of plant anatomy will be posted soon
germination:
Germination is the process in which a plant emerges from seed and starts growth, the birth of the plant so to speak (that would make your plant's germination date its birthday). Most commonly this is manfisted by the sprouting of a seedling from the seed.
greenfly:
Common tiny yellowish green insects about 2-5 mm long. They attack the soft growing tips of plants where they suck the plant juice from leaves, buds, stems. Check out this post for more about pests and how to control them.
herbaceous plants:
Soft-stemmed, not woody plants; their stems are supported largely by the pressure of sap within them. Most flowering plants are herbaceous.
hormone:
check under rooting hormone
hypocotyl:
The embryonic stem: after the radicle of a seedling is developed, the hypocotyl shoots out of the soil lifting the growing tip and seed coat and carrying and the cotyledon. The hypocotyl develops into the the plant stem.
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mealybug:
Mealybugs are slow-moving pests with woolly white covering. They attack the underside of leaves and suck juice; as a by-product, they produce sticky sweet cottony "honeydew". Check out this post for more about pests and how to control them.
mulch:
Mulch is simply a layer of any organic material, most commonly plant clippings, old fallen leaves, and sometimes hay, added to the top of the soil and surrounding the plant base. Mulching (the act of adding mulch) acts as a natural fertilizer, as it supplies the soil with the nutrients from the added organic material, and maintains soil humidity by inhibiting evaporation; it also prevents the growth of undesired weeds.
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ovary:
The ovary is the female part of the flower that receives the pollen from the fruit.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
ovule:
check under ovary
peat:
Peat is is composed mainly of marshland vegetation - trees, grasses, fungi, as well as other types of organic remains, such as insects, and animal remains - that is inhibited from fully decaying by acidic and anaerobic conditions. It is used as a soil amendment to improve structure and increase acidity. It provides for better water retention and better aeration. Peat is in and by itself not fertile, but it will store nutrients when plants are fertilized. Check out this post to read more about mixing potting soil basics.
peat moss:
check under sphagnum peat
perennials:
Perennials are plants whose life cycle (growing from seed, maturing and flowering, reproducing - i.e. baring fruit and making more seed, and dying) spans over many years; the name is derived from the Latin perennis, which means 'many years'.
perlite:
A naturally occuring, non-crystalline volcanic glass. It is extremely light weight and has a brilliant white color. It is added as a soil amendment to prevent water loss and soil compaction. Check out this post to read more about mixing potting soil basics.
petal:
The petal is the member of the second whorl of a flower, it is simply the colorful part of the flower; collectively, the flower petals make up the corolla. Petals (along with other flower features) are designed to attract the pollinators in the plant's natural habitat.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
petiole:
The petiole is the stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the stem.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
pollen:
The dust-like fine, yellow spores that carry the male genes of a plant. These are transported from the stigma of the female parts through a pollinator to fertilize the ovule.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
pollinator:
A pollinator is any agent that peforms the task of transforming the pollen from the male to the female plant parts so it can reproduce. The most commonly referenced pollinators are bees and wind. However, plants and their flowers adapt to their natural environment to attract any available agents into performing this task; "tricks" include being of certain color, emitting certain scents, opening up at certain times, etc. all depending on the available agents and their preferences.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
plug tray:
A plastic or styrofoam tray containing a number of cells where seeds can be started.
potting-on:
Potting-on simply means moving a plant to a larger pot; it involves knocking out the plant from the original pot (obtaining a soil-ball held together by the plant roots), the drain holes of the larger pot are covered with broken crocks or gravel, and a layer of compost is added over this - thick enough to bring the surface of the soil-ball up to within 1 cm of the rim of the new pot. Compost is run around the soil-ball and firmed down with the thumbs. Soil is then tamped down well and watered thoroughly. Depending on the size and type of the plant, the pot used for potting-on should allow about 2 cm more space all round for the roots.
propagation:
Propagation refers simply to the reproduction of plants. Unless the term 'natural propagation' is used (which refers to the mechanisms the plants use in their natural habitat to reproduce, like producing seeds, throwing out roots whenever they touch suitable soil, producing runners that develop into a grown plant etc.) - the word propagation generally refers to a reproduction process that is controlled by the grower to speed it up above the rate that would occur naturally and increase the yield of plants. There are a number of techniques to propagate plants - from sowing seeds into special germinators, to airlayering, to simply planting a cut stem in soil.
Check out these posts for discussions of those techniques and more.
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radicle:
The radicle is embryonic root, the root of the seedling. It is the first part of the seed to emerge during germination. The root system of the plant develops from the radicle.
root:
The root is the tender underground part of the plant; it is light and air sensitive. The root performs two key functions in a plant: it anchors it in the ground and absorbs the dissolved nutrients and water from the soil.
A plant root system usually consists of a taproot and a mass of finer root hairs that horizontally branch out of the latter.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
root hairs:
check under root
rooting hormone:
Most commercially available plant rooting hormones are synthetic compounds that mimic the function of natural plant hormones, which are growth regulating chemicals that affect flowering, aging, root growth, distortion and killing of leaves, stems, and other parts, prevention or promotion of stem elongation, color enhancement of fruit, prevention of leafing and/or leaf fall, and many other conditions. They are available in either liquid or powdered form, although the latter is the more common presentation.
scarification:
Scarification is a special type of stratification applied to remove or weaken the mechanical moisture barrier (usually a hard shell like in peach and plum stones) to promote its germination; this is done e.g. by cracking or making a shallow cut in the hard shell.
seedling:
A seedling is a baby plant developing out of a plant seed. Its three main parts are the radicle or embryonic root, the hypocotyl or embryonic stem, and the cotyledon or seed leaf.
sepal:
The sepal is an element of the first row of a flower whorl; it is the the element that contained and protected the budding flower. Sepals are most commonly green.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
sphagnum peat:
Sphagnum peat, also commonly referred to as peat moss, is peat from the decomposition of any of the various pale or ashy mosses of the genus Sphagnum. It has very high water retention properties and is used as soil conditioner. Check out this post to read more about mixing potting soil basics.
stamen:
The male part of the plant which produces the pollen. It consists of an upper part - the anther, and a bottom part - the filament.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
stem-cutting:
Stem cutting is a simple propagation technique that, as the name suggests, involves cutting a healthy herbacious stem and allowing it to take root before it is potted to grow into a plant. This can be done by placing the stem in a water jar, or applying rooting hormone to promote root growth and potting in a somewhat sheltered environment until a strong root system is developed.
A detailed post describing how to perform this easy technique the correct way will be published soon.
stigma:
The (outermost) female flower part that receives the pollen. It is connected to the ovary by a style.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
stratification:
Stratification is a seed pretreatment process that simulates the conditions prevalent during the seed's natural dormancy period. Common treatments include soaking, refrigeration, drying; again, the type of stratification treatment applied to promote the germination of a seed will depend chiefly on the natural growth conditions and life cycle patterns of the plant.
style:
The female part of the flower which connects the stigma to the ovary .
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
succulent pants:
Succulent plants feature thick and fleshy leaves and/ or stems.
taproot:
The taproot is the main or primary root that grows from the seed; in a grown plant it is the most enlarged root , is somewhat straight to tapering, and grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots branch off laterally.
Check out this factsheet for a simple demonstration of basic plant anatomy and functions.
trailers:
Trailers are plants whose stems are too weak to support upright growth; the stems can be left to trail or can be tied to supports to force them to stand upright.
transplanting:
Generally refers to the action of moving one plant from one location or container to another, and more prominently used to describe moving an established seedling from the smaller germination pot to its final destination location in a garden or container.
tuber:
Tubers are swollen roots; they are underground storage organs, which spread and branch through the soil and from which plants grow. Each of the branching tips develops its own shoot, which eventually forms a new plant.
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variegation:
Variegated plants are plants whose leaves feature light green, white, or creamy coloration patterns. Variegation can be readily seen on many common house plants such as the Dieffenbachia and Aglaonema (read my post about my Agloanema crispum). Plants that have leaves that feature one or more colors other than the above are simply called colored plants; a common example for the latter type is Croton (the Codiaeum family).
weed:
A general term used to describe any undesirable or unwanted plant in a habitat; this is chiefly because it interferes with the main or desired habitat plants - either by ruining its aesthetics, or crowding its desirable plants and competing with them over any or all the needed resources: space, light, and nutrients.
whitefly:
Whiteflies are white(!). Scientific name: Aleyrodids, these are sucking flying bugs. They are wedge-shaped and are about 1 mm long. Whiteflies are to be found on the underside of leaves and fly away when disturbed.
Check out this post for more about pests and how to control them.
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