Arboretum Botanical Glossary

"Purdue Name Number" is a unique identifier for this specific plant taxon. It is part of our internal numbering system used to assign numbers to specific plant taxa. We use separate "name numbers" even for different cultivars of the same plant species. This allows us to better manage taxonomic changes that happen over time. Essentially, a "Purdue Name Number" acts as a primary key in…

Putrescent Tending to decay rapidly. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Pyramidal Pyramid-shaped (broad at the base, tapering to a point at the top)

Quadrangular Having a square or rectangular cross section. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Raceme An elongated cluster of flowers on a stalk. This feature helps explain how flowers are arranged, how pollination happens, or how seeds begin to form.

Rachilla The axis of a grass or sedge spikelet; a small rachis

Rachis The central rib of a compound leaf or flower cluster

Radiate Having parts radially arranged about a central point. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.

Radical On or near the roots of a plant. This feature helps describe plant support, storage, water movement, or vegetative spread.

Ramose With many branches. This feature helps describe plant form, function, or identification.