Glossary: General botanical term

Attenuate With a long, gradual taper. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Auricle A small ear-shaped appendage. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Auriculate Bearing ear-like appendages. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Awn A narrow bristle-like appendage, usually at the tip or dorsal surface. Did you know? Some grass awns twist and untwist with humidity changes, helping drill the seed into the soil.

Axillary Located at an axil. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Barbellate With short stiff hairs or barbs. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification. Did you know? Burdock burrs have tiny hook-like barbs; their clingy design inspired the invention of Velcro.

Barbellulate With very tiny short stiff hairs or barbs. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Basal At the base of. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Beak A narrow or elongated tip. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Bearded Bearing one or more tufts of long hairs. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification. Did you know? The fuzzy “beard” on a bearded iris helps guide pollinators toward the flower center.