Alternate: Growing from opposite sides of a stalk at different points along its length. (Compare an opposite leaf pattern, in which leaves grow on opposite sides of the stalk at the same point.)
Basal rosette: Leaves that are grouped from a central point in a circular shape (growing from the base of the plant, at ground level).
Biennial: A plant that normally has a two-year life cycle, spending the first year as a stalkless basal rosette storing energy, and using that energy to produce a flower stalk in the second year, after which the plant dies.
Bloom: A thin waxy or powdery coating that can be rubbed off. Often found on fruit and smooth herb stems; bloom gives the surface a lighter hue.
Bract: A small, modified leaf found directly beneath a flower or flower cluster.
Bulb: A modified bud, such as an onion, in which the leaves are enlarged and thickened to store energy.
Calyx: The sepals of a flower considered as a group.
Cambium: The layer of dividing cells that lies between the wood and bark of a tree. Sometimes called the “inner bark.”
Cane: The slender woody stem of a bramble fruit, like raspberries. Canes often grow in clumps, giving them a bush-like appearance.
Chaff: The unwanted, inedible dried flower and fruit parts that are separated from a grain by rubbing and then removed by winnowing.
Channeled: Having a groove or depression running lengthwise; usually said of petioles.
Common name: The local name given to a plant or animal species.
Composite: A flower cluster that appears as one flower (such as a daisy) in which many tiny florets are clustered on a receptacle.
Compound leaf: A leaf that consists of multiple leaflets.
Corm: A short, thick, solid, food-storing stem that grows underground.
Cyme: A broad, flat-topped, or convex cluster of flowers that is not an umbel.
Entire: Having no divisions, lobes, or teeth; said of a leaf or leaflet.
Fiddlehead: The young shoot of a fern, upon which the end parts are coiled or drooping rather than pointed.
Floret: One of the many tiny flowers of a composite flower.
Flower bud: A flower that is not ready to open.
Flower stalk: A stalk that bears a flower or flowers.
Frond: The leaf or aboveground stem of a fern; a large compound leaf of a palm.
Fruitarian: A person whose diet consists solely of fruit.
Globose: Spherical or roughly spherical.
Green smoothie: A blended drink made from fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables.
Kernel: An edible seed, or the edible portion of a seed.
Lanceolate: Lance-shaped.
Latin name: A name used within scientific communities around the world to convey the genus and species of a plant or animal.
Leaflet: One of the smaller leaves or blades within a compound leaf.
Lobe: An extension of a leaf blade; a division of a leaf that is broadly attached rather than constricted or stalked at the base, as on the leaves of white and red oak.
Margin: The outer edge of a leaf.
Midvein: The main vein of a leaf.
Mucilage: A sticky or slimy substance, usually indicating the presence of dissolved starches. Mucilaginous refers to plants or plant parts that contain mucilage or produce mucilage when chewed.
Node: The point on a stem where one or more leaves are borne.
Nori: A type of seaweed sold in paper-like sheets at the supermarket. Commonly used in Asian cuisine.
Opposite: Growing from the same point along a stalk but on opposite sides of it; paired. (Compare an alternate pattern, in which leaves grow on opposite sides but at different points along the stalk.)
Ovate: Roughly egg-shaped; somewhat longer than broad, with the widest part near the base.
Palmate: Hand-shaped, having several finger-like lobes.
Palmately compound: Having several leaflets radiate from the same point.
Panicle: A flower cluster with a compound branching pattern, the branches growing from an elongated central stalk. Grapes are a well-known example.
Pedicel: The stem of an individual flower or fruit within a cluster.
Perennial: Any plant that typically lives for more than two years.
Petal: One of the innermost set of modified leaves of a flower, usually brightly colored.
Petiole: The stem or stalk of a leaf.
Pinnate: Feather-like; with leaflets, branches, or veins arranged in two rows along opposite sides of a midvein or midrib; the most common form for ferns, also seen in most legume leaves and compound tree leaves such as walnut, hickory, and ash.
Pistil: The central female part of the flower, which receives the pollen. It is usually much larger than the stamens (if both present).
Pith: The soft, spongy material found in the center of many stems.
Poisonous plant: A plant that contains harmful elements and can cause pain or discomfort to those that consume it.
Potherb: A green eaten after boiling or steaming.
Quinoa: A protein-rich, South American grain that is available for purchase at most health food stores around the world.
Raceme: A flower cluster in which each flower is borne on a stem emanating from an elongated central stem.
Rhizome: An underground stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes.
Rib: A pronounced vein in a leaf.
Root: The part of a plant that anchors it in the ground. The root also absorbs water and nutrients.
Rootstock: A root or part of a root used as a stock for plant propagation.
Sagittate: Arrow or arrowhead-shaped, with two sharp lobes at the base of the leaf.
Search image: A picture that your brain creates about a certain object that helps you identify that object.
Sepal: One of the separate, usually green parts forming the calyx of a flower. Sepals usually form directly under a flower.
Serrated: With sharp teeth of somewhat uniform size.
Shoot: Rapidly growing stem or stalk of a plant, like asparagus. Leaves may be present, but are not fully formed and comprise a small portion of the shoot’s volume.
Simple leaf: A leaf that is not compound; a single-leaf unit.
Stamen: The male, pollen-bearing part of a flower. Usually multiple.
Succulent: Thick, fleshy, and juicy.
Taproot: A primary, central root that grows downward rather than laterally or horizontally.
Tendril: A twisting, threadlike structure by which a twining plant, such as a grape or cucumber, grasps an object or a plant for support.
Tuber: An enlargement of a stem in which energy is stored, such as a potato. Tubers are often very starchy.
Umbel: A flat-topped or rounded flower cluster in which the individual flower stalks arise from about the same point.
Winnowing: To separate the chaff from grain by means of a current of air.