Definitions
An Index to Pictorial Definitions
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I know I have problems sometimes understanding the definitions of biological terms. Fortunately, it never embarasses me to ask or to be wrong. So I'm going to attempt to give the definitions of some biological terms in laymen's terms. I hope I don't offend any of the professionals in the process. I plan to stick to those terms that can be readily understood by the use of a photograph.
I would appreciate input. Whether or not I use it will depend in large measure on whether or not I understand it.
I would appreciate suggestions of terms that I should consider including! All quoted definitions are from the glossary in a book How to Identify Plants by H. D. Harrington, ill. by L. W. Durrell, Sage Books, The Swallow Press, Inc., Chicago, 1957.
A
adventitious
adventitious picture from Len Colgan
adventitious from my Alcantarea nahoumii
ageotropic
E
etiolate (v.), etiolation (n.)
F
falcate
G
geotropic
glabrous
H
heliotropic (adj.)
hooked (adj.)
M
mucron (n.), mucronate (adj.)
P
prickle (n.)
S
scurf or scurfy
secund
sepal
stoloniferous
T
tomentose
V
viviparous
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We don't have every plant. You have plants that we don't. Take pictures as I have described. Send them to me with the name of the plant, your name and any data you feel is pertinent and we will acknowledge you when we use them. We will start off with several plants and replace one or more of them every week or so.
Please give us your reactions and suggestions. We are very open to suggestion. We have a profound feeling of not knowing what we are doing. But we'll forge ahead anyway.
Please send your note to Charles Dills in California, USA.
