Arboretum Botanical Glossary

Cyme A convex or flat flower cluster, with the central flowers opening first

Cypsela A dry single-seeded, fruit consisting of an achene with a closely adhering calyx sheath, characteristic of the aster family (Asteraceae or Compositae.) Did you know? Each tiny dandelion “parachute” carries a cypsela, a one-seeded fruit of the aster family.

Cystidium A specialized sterile end cell formed anywhere in fungal tissue of a mushroom. It is most commonly found in the hymenial layer of tissue (the surface covering of the gills), but may also be found on the surface of the cap, the surface of the stipe (stem), or even within the sterile tissue of the stipe.

Deadhead To remove spent flowers from a plant in order to improve appearance or prevent self-seeding. Did you know? Deadheading petunias, roses, and dahlias can extend bloom because the plant keeps producing flowers instead of maturing seeds.

Decumbent Lying flat on the ground but with the tip pointing up.

Decurrent Extending downward from the point of attachment, as in a leaf base that extends down along the stem. In mushrooms, pertaining to the attachment of the gills to the stipe (stem), in which the gills curve partly down the stipe towards the base of the stipe.

Dehiscence The splitting open of an anther or seed pod. This feature helps explain how flowers are arranged, how pollination happens, or how seeds begin to form. Did you know? Some seed pods explosively dehisce, flinging seeds away from the parent plant.

Deliquescing The process by which gills in the mushroom genus Coprinus (Ink Caps) rapidly break down into a black ink-like liquid, droplets of which disperse spores

Deltate Shaped like an equilateral triangle. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Dentate Toothed. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.