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Term
|
Description
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abaxial
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The underside of a leaf
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achene
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A dry and non-fleshy fruit that contains a seed. Commonly fruits of the Aster family
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alternate
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Leaves arranged alternately on the stem of the plant
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anther
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Produces pollen in a flower and is at the tip of the stamen. Often powdery yellow or orange
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apiculate
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Short and abrupt pointed tip
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appressed
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Laid flat
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appressed hairs
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Hairs that lie flat
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auricle
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Claw-like structures at the base of the leaf blade that usually clasp the sheath to the grass stem (culm)
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awn
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A bristle arising from a grass inflorescence
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axil (of upper leaf)
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Where the leaf joins with the stem
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Large upper petal of the pea family (Fabaceae) with two lobes
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basal internodes (stem)
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Lower stem segments between branches or leaves
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beak (fruit, seed)
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Tip
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bipinnate
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Compound leaf with oppositely paired side stems along a central leaf stem. Leaves are arranged oppositely on the side stems
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bract-like
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Resembles bracts which are leaf-like structures at the base of flower heads
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bracts
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Leaf-like structures at the base of flower heads
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bulb-like
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Rounded resembling a bulb which is an underground stem with modified leaves to store nutrients and water
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bunched
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Dense patches
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bunchgrass
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Grows in clumps
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C3/C4
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C3 plants fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into sugar in the same cell, and are better adapted for cooler and moister environments than C4 grasses. C4 plants fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into a simple compound which is transported to a different leaf cell to be converted into sugars. C4 plants are better adapted than C3 plants for hotter environments
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canescent (stem)
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Covered in dense, fine and short hairs arising
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cauline (leaf)
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Arising from the stem
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ciliated margins
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Fine hairs along the leaf margin
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clum
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Stem of a grass or sedge
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collar
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A band of meristematic tissue where the leaf blade meets the sheath on grasses
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composite flower
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A flower that contains ray and disk flowers
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compound stem
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Branched
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corymb
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A flat-topped cluster of flowers. Stalks of outer flowers are longer than inner flower stalks. Outer flowers bloom first
(see illustration) |
corymbiform
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Corymb-like cluster of flowers
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crenate margins
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Blunt toothed leaf margin. Teeth have convex sides and the indentations between teeth is angular
(see illustration)
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crown
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Tip
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cyme
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A flower cluster in which the central flower blooms first. May be flat or round topped
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cymiform
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A cyme-like cluster of flowers
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decumbent
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Lying along the ground with extremities curved upwards
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deltoid-lanceolate
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Somewhat triangular with a wider base and narrower tip
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dentate
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A leaf margin that has widely spaced teeth with pointed tips. Between the tips, teeth are concavely curved
(see illustration)
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disk flower
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Small tightly packed flowers. Makes up the central disk of composite flowers like Asters
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distal
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Upper stem
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dotted glands
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Conspicuous pores
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downy comas
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A cluster of fluffy hairs
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drupe
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Fleshy fruit containing a single large seed
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elliptic
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Flattened circle with two axes of symmetry
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entire
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An untoothed leaf margin (see illustration)
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erect
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Upright; growing straight
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feathery
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Soft, branched, feather-like appearance
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fibrous (roots)
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Loose root system made up of many thin roots that originate from the stem base (not a large central tap root)
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floret
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A ray or disk flower. Many florets make up a compound flower
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glabrous
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Hairless
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gland
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A stem or leaf pore
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glandular
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Surface is dotted with conspicuous pores
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glume
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Empty flower head scales of grasses
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hairs, bristles
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Thin thread-like structures which can be short, long, soft or rough. Can be used for wind seed dispersal or to improve water retention
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hispid hairs
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Long, stiff, straight hairs
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hull
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Outer layer, often referring to the outside of a seed or nut
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inflorescence
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Arrangement of flowers
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internode
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Lengthwise stem sections between leaves
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lanceolate/lance shaped
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A leaf shape with a wider base and a narrower tip
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leaflet
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A leaf-like unit of a compound leaf
(see illustration)
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lemmas
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Lower bracts of a grass floret
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ligule
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A structure of thickened tissue between the sheath and blade of the leaf. May be a papery membrane or a row of hairs
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lobed
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Distinct protrusions that may be angular or rounded
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lyrate
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Lobed leaf with the tip lobe being larger than the lateral lobes
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margins
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Leaf edges
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mericarp
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The two mericarps of a schizocarp resemble achenes and produce seeds
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mid-cauline
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Mid-stem
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midrib/midvein
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Central leaf vein
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nerved
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Veins or ribs, often referred to lateral leaf veins
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nutlet
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Seeds with a very hard seed coat from families such as the mint family (Lamiacea)
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oblanceolate
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A leaf shape with a narrower base than apex and a rounded tip
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obovoid
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Three-dimensional shape that is wider at the top than the bottom
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opposite
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A leaf arrangement where leaves are paired along the stem
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palea
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Inner bract of the two bracts beneath a grass floret
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panicle
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A branched cluster of flowers. Can be narrow and spike-like or broad
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pappus
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Modified sepals attached to the top of ovary. May be scales, or hair-like bristles
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pedicel
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Flower stalk
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petal
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Modified leaves that are usually colourful. Can be used to attract pollinators
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petioles
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A stalk that connects the leaf to the stem
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pinnate
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A compound leaf with leaflets arranged oppositely along a central stalk
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pistil
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Female structures of a flower consisting of the ovaries, style and stigma
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plume (inflorescence)
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Feathery
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proximal
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Base
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raceme
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Elongated cluster of flowers. Each flower has its own stem which attaches to a central flower stalk
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ray flower
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Petal-like outer flowers of a composite flower head
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reduced distally
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Leaf size decreases with increased stem height
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reflexed petal
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A petal that bends outward or downward at a sharp angle
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revolute
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Leaf margins that curl or roll downward
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rhizomatous
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Reproduces vegetatively (asexually) by rhizomes
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rhizomes
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Shallow, underground stems that can produce new clones
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rose hip
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An aggregate fruit of a rose. Hairy achenes are inside a red fleshy receptacle
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rosettes
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Whorled basal leaves
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scabridulous
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Slightly rough
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scabrous
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Surface is rough with short hairs
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secund
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Arising only from one side
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seed coat
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Outer protective layer of a seed
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self compatible
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Can reproduce if pollinated with its own pollen
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sepal
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Leaf-like structure at the base of the flower. Usually surrounds the ovaries and provides support and protection to developing seeds. May have a petal-like appearance
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serrated
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Leaf margins are toothed. Teeth are approximately the same size
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sessile
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Leaf attaches to stem directly without a petiole
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sheaf/sheath
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An extension of the leaf that wraps around the stem. Found in grasses, sedges and some forbs.
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simple leaf
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Not divided into leaflets like a pinnate or compound leaf
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spikelet
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Floral structure of a grass or sedge made up of pairs of scales which contain florets
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stalkless
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Without a stem
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stamen
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Male reproductive organs of a flower made up of the filament (thin stalk that supports the anther) and anther
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stigma
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Tip of the pistil that receives pollen
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stipules
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Leaf-like structure where the leaf attaches to the stem. Often in pairs
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stoloniferous
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Reproduces vegetatively (asexually) by stolons
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stolons
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Creeping aboveground runner stems that can produce new clones
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style
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Thin and long structure connects the stigma to the ovary in a flower. May be 1 or multiple in a flower
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subentire
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Almost entire leaf margins
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sublyrate
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Almost lyrate
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suborbicular (seed)
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Almost spherical
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subumbelliform
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Umbel-like cluster with flowers arising from the same point
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succulent
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Thickened, fleshy, retaining water
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tap root
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A root system that has a central root that may be slender or stout with branching finer roots
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tepal
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Petals and sepals of flowers that have similar appearances
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terete
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Round stem
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terminal
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Located at the end, often referring to flowers at the end of stems
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ternate
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Divided into three groups
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toothed
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Serrated
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tufts
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Feathery or bristly bunches of hair
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umbel
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Cluster of flowers that has flower stalks developing from the same location
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undulate
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Wavy
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venation
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Pattern of veins in a leaf
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villi
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Fuzzy, hair-like structures
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whorled
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A arrangement with 3 or more structures (usually leaves or scales) that are connected at same location on the stem and point outward in different directions
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winged
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A thin papery or leaf-like membrane that often runs along the edge of a seed or along a stem or stalk
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