Arboretum Botanical Glossary

Lenticular Shaped like a lens - biconvex. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Leptomorph Reproducing by means of runners - as in running bamboos Did you know? Running bamboos spread by leptomorph rhizomes and may need underground barriers to keep them contained.

Lignicolous Living on wood. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Ligulate Star shaped. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Ligule A strap-shaped organ. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification. Did you know? Grass specialists often identify grasses by the ligule at the junction of the leaf blade and sheath.

Limb A tree branch or the expanded part of a petal or leaf.

Linear Straight and narrow. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Lobate In the form of a lobe. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Lobe A projecting portion or segment, usually referring to a leaf Did you know? Maple and oak leaves are easy to recognize partly because of their distinctive lobes and sinuses.

Locule A seed-containing cell within a fruit or the pollen-containing compartment within an anther. Did you know? Tomato seed chambers are locules; each juicy section contains seeds attached to the inner fruit wall.