Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub
[blocks in formation]

pistil. Defective in some essential part. seed. Not becoming perfect through want of the fertilizing influence of the pollen. Abrupt' leaf.

A pinnate leaf with an odd

or terminal leafet. Acalyces. (From a, signifying without, and calyx, a flower cup.) A class in an ancient method of arrangement, consisting of plants without a calyx. Acaules. (From a, wanting, and caulis, a stem.) The 20th class in Magnolius' method, including plants without stems. Acero'se leaf. Linear and permanent, as in the pine.

Acic'ular. Needle shaped.

A'cinus. A small berry which, with many
others, composes the fruit of the mulber-
ry and raspberry; the plural is acini.
Acotyled'onous. (From a, without, and co-
tyledon, a seed lobe.) Plants destitute of
seed lobes, and which consequently put
forth no seminal or seed leaves, as mosses
and ferns.
Acu'leus. (From acus, a needle.)
prickle, or sharp point; common to the
rose and raspberry. It differs from the
thorn in being a prolongation of the
outer bark of the plant, and unconnected
with the wood. Prickles have been
compared to the nails and claws of ani-
mals.

A

Acu'minate. Abruptly sharp pointed,
ing the point curved towards one edge of
the leaf, resembling an awl.
Acute. More gradually sharp pointed than
acuminate. An obtuse angle or any
other mathematical angle, is acute in bo-
tanical language.

Ad'versifolia. (From adversus, opposite,
and folium, a leaf.) Plants whose leaves
stand opposite to each other, on the same
stem or branch. Name of the 5th class
in Sauvage's Methodus foliorum (me-
thod of leaves), as exemplified in the la-
biate flowers.
Estiva'les.
(From astas, summer.)
Plants which blossom in summer. The
second division of Da Pas' method, with
reference to the four seasons of the year,
consisting of herbs which blossom in

summer.

A'fora. (From a, without, and fores, a door.) Having no doors or valves. The name of a class in Camerius' method, consisting of plants whose pericarp or seed vessel is not furnished with internal valves.

Aga'mous. (From a, without, and gamos, marriage.) A term derived from the indelicate notions of the botanists of the last century, respecting the sexual distinctions of plants; and which, whatever analogies may actually exist between the vegetable and animal kingdoms, should as far as possible be excluded from the science. Were it to be otherwise, the study of botany ought to be limited to the medical profession. Of all studies, that of botany should be unaccompanied by aught that might pain or disgust a delicate mind. Plants without any visible stamens or pistils are by French botanists called agamous.

A'ges of plants. Ephemeral are such as spring up, blossom and ripen their seed in a few hours or days; annual live a few months or one summer.

biennial, spring up one summer and die the following.

perennial, live an indefinite period. hav-Ag'gregate. (From aggregare, to assemble.) Many springing from the same point; this term was at first applied to compound flowers, but there is at present a sevenfold division of aggregate flowers; the aggregate, properly so called; compound, umbellate, cymose, amentaceous, glumose, spadiceous.

Adelphous (From the Greek adelphos, a brother or an equal.) Applied to plants whose stamens are united by their filaments, whether in one or two sets. Adnate. Growing together.

*The author, in preparing the following vocabulary, consulted Milne, Thornton, Mirbel and Eaton.

Aggregate flower is erected on peduncles Angiosper'mal. (From angio, a vessel, or footstalks, which all have one com- and sperma, seed.) Plants whose seeds mon receptacle on the stem; they some- are inclosed or covered. times have one common calyx, and are Angular. sometimes separately furnished with a calyx.

Aigrette. See egret.

Forming angles; when the stems, calyxes, capsules, &c. have ridges running lengthwise. Angustifolius. Narrow-leaved. Annual.

A plant which lives but one year. The herbage is often annual, while the root is perennial; in this case the plant is said to be perennial. Annula'ted. Having a ring round the capsules; as in ferns; or in mushrooms having a ringed stipe.

A'la. A Latin word signifying a wing.
It is sometimes used to express the angle
formed by the stem with the branch or
leaf. Linnæus and some others use the
term ala, as the name of a membrane,
affixed to some species of seeds which
serves as a wing to raise them into the
air, and thus promotes their dispersion. An'nulus. A ring.
Ale. The two lateral or side petals of a
papilionaceous flower.

Albu' men. The farinaceous, fleshy or
horny substance, which constitutes the
chief bulk of monocotyledonous seeds;
as wheat, rye, &c.

Anomalous. (From a, without, and nomos, law.) Irregular, or whatever forms an exception to a general rule. The 11th class in Tournefort's method is called anomala, including plants whose corollas are composed of irregular and dissimilar parts; as the columbine, monk's hood, violet, larkspur, &c.

Anther. (From anthos, a flower, so called as indicating its importance.) That part of the stamen which contains the pollen; it is of various forms, as linear, awlshaped, heart-shaped, round, &c.; it is one celled, two celled, &c.; the anther of the Tritilaria (crown imperial) has four cells.

Alburnum. (From albus, white.) The soft white substance, which in trees is found between the liber, or inner bark and the wood, and becoming solid, in progress of time is converted into wood. From its colour and comparative softness, it has been styled the fat of trees. It is called the sap wood, and is formed by a deposite of the cambium or descending sap; in one year it becomes wood; and a new layer of alburnum is again Antherid'ium. A mass of pollen. formed by the descent of the cambium. Antherif'erous. Flowers bearing anthers Al'ge. Flags; these by Linnæus com- without filaments. prise the plants of the order Hepatico Anthus. and Lichenes.

A

(From the Greek anthos.) flower generally referring to the petals only.

Antiscorbutics. Substances which eure eruptions.

Alpine. Growing naturally on high mountains. Alter'nate. Branches, leaves, flowers, &c. are alternate, when beginning at differ-Apet'alous. (From a, without, and petaent distances on the stem; opposite, is] when they commence at the same distan ces, and base stands against base. Alternately pinnate leaf; when the leafets are arranged alternately on each side of the common footstalk or petiole. Alve'olate. Having cells which resemble a honey-comb.

lum, a petal.) ilaving no petals or corollas; such flowers are termed incom plete; such as are destitute of either stamens or pistils are called imperfect. Apet' alæ. A class formed by some of the ancient botanists, including plants destitute of corollas.

A'pex. The top or summit.

Ambitus. The outer rim of a frond, re- Aphyl'lous. (From a, without, and phylceptacle, &c.

lon, a leaf.) Destitute of leaves. Aphylla is the name given by an ancient botanist to a class of plants without leaves, comprising garlic, rush, mushrooms, &c. Appen'daged.

A'ment. Flowers collected on chaffy
scales, and arranged on a thread or slen-
der stalk; these scales mixed with the
flowers resemble the chaff in an ear of
corn; in the willow and poplar, an
ament supports both staminate and pis- prickles, &c.

Having bracts, thorns,

tillate flowers on distinct roots. Flowers Appres'sed. Closely pressed; as leaves supported by an ament are generally des- against the stem, &c. titute of a corolla. Amplexicaulis. Clasping the base of the

stems.

Analysis. To analyze a plant botanically,
is to ascertain its name, by observing its
organs, and comparing them with scien-
tific descriptions of plants.
Ancip'etal. Having two sharp edges like
a sword.

An'dria. Signifies stamen.
Androg'ymous plants. Such as bear sta-

minate and pistillate flowers on the same root; as the oak and indian corn; such plants belong to the class Monacia. Angiocar'pus. Fungi bearing seeds internally.

Approximate. Growing near each other.
Ap'terous. Without wings.
Aquat'ic. (From aqua, water.) Growing
in, or near water. Aquatice, was an
ancient name for a class including all
plants which grow in water.
Arbor. A tree; a perennial plant, which
rises to a great height, having a woody
stem. Most trees spring from seeds hav-
ing two cotyledons; they are therefore
called dicotyledonous plants. The stems
of such plants are said to be exogenous,
that is, growing externally, new layers
of wood being every year formed under
the bark, around the outside of the old
wood. Palm trees are monocotyledonous

plants; their stems are called endoge- Barb. A straight process, armed with nous, that is, growing internally and teeth pointing backwards.

pressing upon the outer coats, which be- Barba'tus. Bearded.

come hard and compact. The ancient Bark. The covering of vegetables, conbotanists divided plants into trees and herbs; but this distinction is too vague to form the basis of classification. Arboreus. Like a tree.

Arbusti'vus. (From arbustum, a shrub.)| An ancient class of plants containing shrubs, as the myrtle, mock-orange (philadelphus), &c.

Arch'ed. Curving above, vaulted. Ar'cuate. (From arcus, a bow.) like a bow.

Arena'rius. Growing in sand.
Argenteus. Silver coloured.

Arid. Dry.

Bent

sisting of several parts; as cuticle, celiular integument, &c. The bark consists of as many layers as the tree on which it grows has years: a new layer being formed from the cambium every year. The newest layer of bark is called liber. Bar'ren. Producing no fruit; containing stamens only.

Beak'ed. Terminating by a process shaped
like the beak of a bird.
Ber'ry. A pulpy pericarp enclosing seeds
without capsules. See Bacca.
Bi, derived from bis, signifying two.
Bicor'nis. Anthers with two horns.

A'ril (arillus). The external coat or co- Bi'dens. Having two teeth.

vering of seeds which, drying, falls off Bien'nial. Living two years, in the second spontaneously. of which the flower and fruit is produ

Aris'tate. (From areo, to be dried). Awned, ending in a bristle.

ced; as in wheat. Bifid. Two parted.

Aro'ides. So called from arum, and form- Bila'biate. Corolla with two lips.
Bipin'nate. Twice pinnate.

ing a natural family of plants.

Arms (arma). Offensive weapons. Plants Biter'nate. Twice ternate. The petiole are said to be armed, when they are furnished with prickles, thorns, &c.

Aromatic. Sweet scented.

supporting three ternate leaves. Bi'valve. Two valved.

Blas'teme. From the Greek blastema, a

Aromaticæ. The name of a class of Di- bud.

oscorides, Clusius, Bauhin, and some Bor'der. The brim or spreading part of a other botanists who arranged plants ac- corolla.

cording to their virtues and sensible Bot'rus. A cluster, like grapes.
qualities.

Arrow-form. Shaped like an arrow head,
the hind lobes acute.
Articulated. Jointed; as in the culm or
stem of the grasses.

Arundinaceous. (From arundo, a reed.)
Resembling reeds.

Arven'sis. Growing in cultivated fields.
Ascending. Rising from the ground ob-
liquely.

Brach'iate. Branches opposite, and each
pair at right angles with the preceding.
Bract. Floral leaf; a leaf near the flower
which is different from the other leaves
of the plant. In the crown-imperial the
bracts are at the termination of the
flower stem; from their resemblance to
a hair, they are called coma.
Branch. A division of the main stem or
main root.

Branch'let. Subdivision of a branch, a

Asperifolius. Rough leaved.
Astringents. Substances which condense twig.
the fibres.

Attenuated. Gradually diminished or ta-
pering.

Auriculate. Having appendages resem-
bling ears.

Awol-form. Sharp at the point, and curved
to one side.
Aun.

A short stiff bristle.
Ax'il. The angle between a leaf and stem
on the upper side.

Ax'illary. Growing out of the axils: leaves are said to be axillary when they proceed from the angle formed by the stem and branch.

B.

Bac'ca. A berry. It is a pulpy pericarp,

Bre'vis. Short.

Bruma'les. (From bruma, winter.) Plants
which blossom in winter.
Bud. The residence of the infant leaf and
flower.

Bulbs. Called roots; sometimes found
growing on the stem; strictly speaking
bulbs are buds, or the winter residence
of the future plants. A bulb contains in
miniature or embryo, a plant similar to
the parent plant. Plants may be renew-
ed from bulbs as well as seeds. Annual
plants do not have bulbs; they are only
preserved by seeds.
Bun'dle. See fascicle.

C.

enclosing seeds without capsules. A Cadu'cous. (From cado, to fall.) Falling berry is said to be proper, when it is early; as the calyx of the poppy. formed of the pericarp or seed vessel; Caes'pitose. Forming turfs, several roots improper or singular when it is formed growing together.

of any other parts. In the mulberry and Cal' amus. Reed like.

rose, a large, fleshy and succulent calyx Calca'reous. Containing lime; applied to becomes a berry. In the strawberry, a shells of oysters, &c.

berry is formed of the common recepta- Calyb'ion. (From kalubion, a little cabin.) cle; in the raspberry of a seed. Bacciferus. Bearing berries, Ban'ner. The upper petal in a papilionaceous flower.

A genus in Mirbel's second class of fruits. Calyc'ulated. Having an additional calyx. Calyp'tra. The cap or hood of pistillate

mosses, resembling an extinguisher set

on a candle. Although called a calyx, it, Cine'reous. Ash coloured. is in reality the corolla of the moss Cin'gens. Surrounding, girding around. closed. Cir'rose. Bearing a tendril. From Cir'a tendril or climber.

Calyx. From the Greek, signifying a rus, flower cup; in most plants it incloses, Clasp'ing. Surrounding the stem with and supports the bottom of the corolla. the base of the leaf.

It is defined by Linnæus to be the ter- Class. The highest division of plants in mination of the outer bark.

Cam'bium. The descending sap, which
every year forms a new layer of bark
and one of wood. It descends between
the bark and the wood, so that the new
wood is formed externally and the new
bark internally.
Campan'ulate. Bell-form.

Campestris. Growing in uncultivated

fields.

[blocks in formation]

Cap'itate. Growing in heads.

the system of Botany. Linnæus divided all plants into 24 classes; 3 of these are now rejected, and the plants which they included placed in the remaining 21 classes. The ancient botanists knew neither methods, systems, or classes; they described under chapters, or sections, those plants which appeared to them to resemble each other in the greatest number of relations.

Cla'vate. Club-shaped, larger at the top than the bottom.

Clau'sus. Closed, shut up.

Cap'sule. A little chest; that kind of hol- Claw. The narrow part by which a petal low seed vessel which becomes dry and is inserted.

opens when ripe; a capsule that never Cleft. Split or divided less than half way. opens is called a samara. Climb'ing. Ascending by means of tenCarcer'ular. (From carcer, prison.) A drils, as grapes; by leaf stalks, as the seed contained in a covering, whose Clematis; by cauline radicles or little sides are compressed. One of Mirbel's fibrous roots, as the creeping American genera of fruits, in the order Carceru- ivy. lares.

Carina. The keel or lower folded petal
of a papilionaceous flower.
Car'inated. Keeled, having a sharp back
like the keel of a vessel.
Carno'se. Of a fleshy consistence.
Carpos. From the Greek karpos fruit.
Caryophylleous. Pink-like corolla, hav-
ing five petals with long claws, all regu-
lar and set in a tubular calyx.
Cat'kin. See Ament.
Cau' date. Having a tail; as in some
seeds.

Gau'dex. The main body of a tree, or root.
Caules'cent. Having a stem exclusive of
the peduncle or scape.

Cau'line. Growing on the main stem.
Caulis. The main herbage-bearing stem
of all plants, called in French, la tige.
Cell. The hollow part of a pericarp or an-
ther; each cavity in a pericarp that con-
tains one or more seeds is called a cell.
According to the number of these cells
the pericarp is one-celled, two-celled,
three-celled, &c.

Cellular. Made up of little cells or cavi-
ties.
Ceno'bion. From the Greek, signifying a
community; one of Mirbel's genera of
fruits.
Cerion. A carcerulate fruit, forming one
of Mirbel's genera of fruits.
Cerea'lis. Any grain from which bread is
made. (From Ceres, goddess of corn.)
Cer'nuus. When the top only droops.
Chaffy. Made up of short membranous
portions like chaff.
Chan'nelled. Hollowed out longitudinally,
with a rounded groove.
Cho'rion. A clear limpid liquor contained
in a seed at the time of flowering. Af-
ter the pollen is received, this liquor be-
comes a perfect embryo of a new plant.
Cic'atrice. The mark or natural scar
from whence the leaf has fallen.
Cil'iate. Fringed with parallel hairs.

Club-shaped. See clavate.
Clus'tered. See racemed.
Cly'peate. Form of a buckler. See pel-

tate.

Coad'nate. United at the base.
Coat'ed. With surrounding coats or layers
Coccin'eous. Scarlet coloured.
Coch'leate. Coiled spirally, like a snail
shell.

Coc'cum. A grain or seed; tricoccous,
3-seeded, &c.

Caru'leus. Blue.

Coleop'tile. From koleos, an envelope, and ptilon a bud.

Co'leorrhize. From koleos, an envelope,
and riza, a root.

Colli'nus. Growing on hills.
Col'oured. Different from green; in the
language of botany, green is not called a
colour. White, which in reality is not
a colour, is so called in botany. The
primitive colours and their intermediate
shades and gradations, are by botanists
arranged as follows:
Water-colour, hyalinus.
White,
albus.
Lead-colour,

(BLACK,

Brown,
Pitch-black,

cinereus.

niger.

fuscus.
ater.

(YELLOW, luteus.
Straw-colour, flavus.
Flame-colour, fulvus.

RED,
Flesh-colour,
Scarlet,

PURPLE,

rubex.

incarnatus.

coccineus.

Violet-colour, cæruleo-purpureus.

BLUE,
GREEN,

purpureus.

cæruleus.

viridis.

White is most common in roots, sweet

berries and the petals of spring flowers.
Black, in roots and seeds. Yellow, in
anthers, and the petals of compound
flowers. Red in the petals of summer
flowers and acid fruits. Blue and vio- Cor'tical. Belonging to the bark.
let colour, in the petals. Green, in the Corydalis. Helmet like.
leaves and calyx.

and tego, to cover.) The rind or coarse
outer bark of plants; the organization
of the outer and inner barks differs chief-
ly in the fineness of their texture.

Columel'la. That which connects the
seeds to the inside of the pericarp. The
central pillar in a capsule.
Column. The style of gynandrous plants;
used for columella.

Co'ma. A tuft of bracts on the top of a
spike of flowers.

Com'mon. Any part is common, which includes or sustains several parts similar among themselves.

Com'pound. Made up of similar simple parts.

-flowers. Such as are in the class Syngenesia, having florets with united anthers.

-leaf. When several leafets grow on one petiole.

-raceme. When several racemes] grow along the side of a peduncle.

-umbel. Having the peduncles subdivided into peduncles of lesser umbels.

stalk.

-petiole. A divided leaf stalk.
-peduncle. A divided flower

Compres'sed. Flattened.

Con cave. Hollowed on one side.
Conceptaculum. Single valved capsule.

Co'rymb. Inflorescence, in which the flower stalks spring from different heights on the common stem, forming a flat top.

Costate. Ribbed.
Cotyledons.

(From kotule, a cavity.) Seed lobes. The fleshy part of seeds which in most plants rises out of the ground and forms the first leaves, called seminal or seed leaves. These lobes in the greatest proportion of plants, are two in number; they are very conspicuous in the leguminous seeds; as beans, peas, &c. The cotyledons are externally convex, internally flat, and inclose the embryo or principle of life, which it is their office to protect and nourish. Cre'mocarpe. (From kremab, to suspend, and karpos, fruit.) A name given by Mirbel to a genus of fruits.

Creeping. Running horizontally; stems
are sometimes creeping, as also roots.
Cre'nate. Scolloped, notches on the mar-
gin of a leaf which do not point towards
either the apex or base.
Cre'nulate. Finely crenate.
Cres'cent-form. Resembling a half-moon.
Crest'ed. Having an appearance like a
cock's comb.

Crowded. Clustered together.

Conchology. The science which treats of Crini'tus. Long haired.
shells.
Cone. A scaly fruit like that of the pine. Crowned. See Coronatus.
See Strobilum.

Conglomerate. Crowded together.
Con'ic. With a broad base, gradually nar-
rowing to the top like a sugar loaf.
Coniferous. Bearing cones.
Conjugate. In pairs.

Cruciform. (From crux, crucis, a cross.)
Four petals placed like a cross.
Crustaceous. Small crusty substances
lying one upon another.

Cryptoga'mia. Stamens and pistils con-
cealed.

Cu'bit. A measure from the elbow to the end of the middle finger.

Con'nate. Opposite, with the bases united or growing into one, forming the appearance of one leaf. Anthers are some-Cucul late. Hooded or cowled, rolled or times connate.

Conni'vent. Converging, the ends inclining
towards each other.
Continuous. Uninterrupted.
Contor'ted. Twisted.
Contrac'ted. Close, narrow.
Converging. Approaching or bending to-
wards each other.

Con'vex. Swelling out in a roundish form.
Con'volute. Rolled into a cylindric form,
as leaves in the bud.

Cor'culum, or Corcle. The embryo or miniature of the future plant, which is found in seeds often between the cotyle-] dons.

folded in, as in the spatha of the Arum or wild turnip.

Cucurbita'ceous. Resembling gourds or melons.

Culinary. Suitable for preparations of

food.

Culm or straw. (From the Greek kalama, stubble or straw; in Latin culmus.) The stem of grasses, Indian corn, sugar cane, &c.

Culmiferous. Having culms; as wheat,
grasses, &c.

Cune'iform. Wedge-form, with the stalk
attached to the point.
Cup'ula. A cup.

Cor'date. Heart-shaped, side lobes round-Curv'ed. Bent inwards. See incurved. ed.

Coria'ceous. Resembling leather; thick
and parchment-like.
Cor'nu. A horn or spur.
Cornic'ulate. Horn shaped.
Corolla, or corol. (A word derived from
corona, a crown.) Usually encloses the

stamens.

Corona'tus. Crowned; as the thistle seed is crowned with down.

Cor'tex. (From corium, leather, or hide,

Cus'pidate. Having a sharp straight point.
(The eye tooth is cuspidate.)
Cu'ticle. The outside skin of a plant, com-
monly thin, resembling the scarf or out-
er skin of animals. It is considered as
forming a part of the bark.
Cya'neus. Blue.

Cy'athiform. Shaped like a common wine
glass.

Cylindrical. A circular shaft of nearly equal dimensions throughout its extent.

« ПредишнаНапред »