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saccate - a. (L. saccus, bag) having the form
of a sac; pouchlike.
sagittate - a. (L. sagitta, arrow) shaped like the head of an arrow with the basal lobes pointing downward. salverform - a. (L. salvus, safe; forma, shape, figure, image) said of a corolla in which the tube is essentially cylindrical, the lobes abruptly spreading; a gamopetalous corolla. sarmentose - adj. (L. sarmentosus, fr. sarmentum, twig; plus, -osus, -ose) producing slender prostrate branches or runners. scabrid - a. (L. scabridus, rough) slightly roughened. scabrous - a. (L. scabrosus, rough) with small points or knobs, like a file; scaly, scabby, rough. scandent - adj. (L. scandent-, scandens, pres. part. of scandere, to climb - more at scan) climbing plant of a creeping or scandent nature. scape - n. (L. scapus, the shaft of a pillar, the stalk of a plant) a stem growing from the crown of the root, bearing the blossom without leaves. scapose - a. scape-bearing; scapigerous; consisting of a scape. scarious - a. (LL. scariousus, rough) tough, thin, dry, and semitransparent. schizocarp - n. (Gr. schizein, to cleave; karpos, fruit) a dry fruit, as in the maple, that splits at maturity into two or more one seeded carpels which remain closed. sclerenchyma - n. (Gr. skleros, hard; enchyma, an infusion) tissue of uniformly thick-walled, dead cells in the stem whose principal function is mechanical. The cells are usually grouped into fibers. scorpioid - a. (Gr. skorpois, scorpion; eidon, form) resembling a scorpion; said of a circinnately coiled determinate inflorescence in which the flowers are two-ranked and borne alternately at the right and left. secund - a. (L. secundus, following) arranged or growing on one side only, as flowers or leaves on a stem. seed - n. (AS. saed, seed) the part of a flowering plant that contains the embryo and will develop into a new plant if sown; a fertilized and mature ovule. sepal - n. (Fr. sepale; L. separatus, separate; pelatum, petal) any of the leaf divisions of the calyx. When a calyx consists of but one part, it is said to be monosepalous; when of two parts, it is said to be disepalous; when of a variable and indefinite number of parts, it is said to be polysepalous; and when the parts are more or less united, it is said to be gamosepalous. septate - n. (L. septatus, surrounded by a fence) having or divided by a septum or septa. septicidal - a. (L. septum, division; caedere, to cut or divide) dividing through middle of ovary septa; dehiscing or breaking open at a natural dividing line. septum - n. (L. septum, a partition) a partition separating two cavities or masses of tissue, as in fruits. pl. septa. serrate - a. (L. serrare, to saw) notched on edge like a saw; having sharp notches along the edge pointing toward the apex; as, a serrate leaf. When a serrate leaf has small serratures upon the large ones, it is said to be double serrate, as in the elm. A serrate-ciliate leaf is one having fine hairs, like eyelashes, on the serratures. A serrate-dentate leaf has the serratures toothed. sessile - a. (L. sedere, to sit) sitting directly on base without support, stalk, pedicel, or peduncle; attached or stationary as opposed to free living or motile. seta - n. (L. seta, bristle) a bristle-like structure. setaceous - a. (L. seta, a bristle) bristly; set with bristles; consisting or having bristles. sheath - n. (AS. sceth, shell or pod) a protective covering; lower part of leaf enveloping stem or culm. shoot - n. (ME. schoten, to shoot, dart) a young branch which shoots out from the main stock. short-day plant - a plant requiring less than 12 hours of daylight in order for flowering to occur. silique - n. (L. siliqua, a pod) the long, narrow pod of plants of the mustard family, Cruciferae, with valves which fall away from a frame bearing the seeds. sinuate - a. (L. sinuare, to bend) having a wavy margin, as some leaves. sinus - n. (L. a bent surface, a curve, a fold or hollow, bosom, a bay) the rounded depression between two consecutive lobes. as of a leaf. pl. sinuses, sinus. slough - n. (AS. sloh, a slough) a wet place of deep mud or mire; a sluggish channel; a swamp, bog, or marsh, especially one that is part of an inlet or backwater. spadix - n. (L. spadix, a palm branch) a racemose inflorescence with elongated axis, sessile flowers, and an enveloping spathe; a succulent spike; a fleshy spike of flowers, usually enclosed in a spathe. spathaceous - a., having a spathe, or having the nature of a spathe. spathe - n. (Gr. spathe, flat blade) a large leaflike part or pair of such enclosing a flower cluster (especially a spadix). spatulate - a., shaped like a spatula or spoon, gradually widening distally and with a rounded tip, as some leaves. species - n. (L. species, particular kind) a group of interbreeding individuals, not interbreeding with another such group, being a taxonomic unit including two names in binomial nomenclature, the generic name and specific epithet, similar and related species being grouped into a genus. Spermatophyta - n. (Gr. sperma, seed; phyton, plant) a major division of the plant kingdom, characterized by reproducing by seed and subdivided into the Gymnospermae and Angiospermae. spicate - a. (L. spicatus, pp. of spicare, to furnish with spikes) having the form of a spike. spicule - n. (L. spicula, a small spike) a small, slender, sharp-pointed piece, usually on a surface; a small spike of flowers. spike - n. (L. spica, spike, ear of corn) a long flower cluster attached directly to the stalk. spikelet - n., a small spike of a large one; a subdivision of a spike; as the spikelets of grasses. spine - n. (ME, thorn, spinal column, fr. L. spinsa, thorn, spine, spinal column) a stiff sharp-pointed plant process as a modified leaf, leaf part, petiole, or stipule. spore - n. (Gr. sporos, seed) any of various small reproductive bodies, often consisting of a single cell, produced by mosses, ferns, etc. asexually (asexual spore) or by the union of gametes (sexual spores); they are highly resistant and are capable of giving rise to a new adult individual, either immediately or after an interval of dormancy. sporophyte - n. (Gr. sporo, a seed; phyton, plant) the diploid spore-producing phase in plants with alternation of generations. spur - n. (AS. spura, spora, a spur) a slender, tubelike structure formed by an extension of one or more petals or sepals; also refers to a very short branch with closely spaced leaves. stalk - n. (probably from Dan. stilk; Sw. stjelk; Icel. stilker, a stalk) the stem or main axis of a plant, which supports the leaves, flowers, and fruit. Any lengthened support on which an organ grows, as the petiole of a leaf or the peduncle of a flower. stamen - n. (L. stare, to stand) the male reproductive organs in flowers; it is situated immediately within the petals, and is composed, in most cases, of two parts, the filament, and the anther, which is filled with pollen. staminate - a., producing or consisting of stamens; flowers with stamens but not pistils. staminodium - n. (L. stamen, a thread, and Gr. eidos, form) a sterile stamen or an organ resembling one. standing crop - weight or organic material that can be sampled or harvested at any one time from a given area, but may not necessarily include the entire plant. Usually refers to normal harvesting procedures, unless specified, for the particular plant under consideration. stellate - a. (L. stella, star) starlike; said of hairs that branch in such a manner as to radiate from a central point. stem - n. (AS. stemm, tree stem) main axis of a plant typically above the soil surface, having leaves or scales, and a characteristic arrangement of the vascular tissue. stem tuber - swollen structures produced by stolons and runners which remain dormant during adverse conditions and later grow into new plants when the conditions become favorable for growth. stigma - n. (Gr. stizein to prick) the upper tip or part of the pistil of a flower receiving the pollen. It is generally situated at the upper extremity of the style. stipe - n. (L. stipes, stalk) the stalk-like basal part of an ovary, or of a fruit such as an achene; the stem bearing pileus in mushrooms and toadstools. stipel - n., a small secondary stipule at the base of a leaflet. stipule - n. (L. stipula, a stalk, a straw) one of two foliaceous or membranaceous processes developed at base of a leaf petiole, sometimes in tendril or spine form, sometimes fused. stolon - n. (L. stole, stolonis, a twig, shoot) a stem which grows from a stem above the ground, taking root at the tip, and ultimately developing a new plant. stoma - n. (NL. fr. Gr. mouth - more at stomach) one of the minute openings in the epidermis of leaves, stems, and other plant organs through which gaseous interchange between the atmosphere and the intercellular spaces within these structures occur; the opening together with its associated guard cells and accessory cells. pl. stomata. stramineus - a. (L. stramen, straw) of or like straw; straw-colored. striated - a. (L. striatus, grooved) marked by narrow lines or grooves, usually parallel. strigose - a. (L. striga, a furrow) covered with stiff hairs; ridged; marked by small furrows; surface clothed with stiff, often appressed hairs, these usually pointing in one direction. style - n. (Gr. stylos, pillar; L. stylus, pricker) slender upper part of pistil, supporting stigma. stylopodium - n. (Gr. stylos, pillar; pous, foot) the fleshy support at the base of the style in flowers of the carrot family, Umbelliferae. submerge - vt. (L. submergere, to dip or plunge under) to sink or plunge beneath the surface of water. submersed plants - plants growing with their root, stems, and leaves completely under the surface of the water. suborbicular - adj. (L. sub, under, below; orbis, circle) approximately circular. subulate - a. (L. subula, an awl) awl-shaped; slender and tapering gradually to a fine point. succulent - n. (L. succus, juice) juicy; full of juice or sap. suffruticulose - a. (L. sub, under, below; frutex, a shrub) moderately frutescent; obscurely shrubby; usually woody only basally. sulcate - a. (L. sulcus, a furrow) furrowed, grooved; scored with deep, parallel furrows or grooves. suture - n. (L. suere, to sew) a seam formed when two parts unite; a seam or line or groove; usually applied to the line along which a fruit dehisces; any lengthwise groove that forms a junction between two parts. swale - n. (Sw. sval, cool) a hollow or depression, especially one in wet, marshy ground. swamp - n. (Sw. svampig, swampy) spongy land; low ground filled with water; a wooded area having surface water much of the time. sympodial - a. (Gr. syn, with; pous, foot) branching, growth of axillary shoots when apical budding has ceased. syncarp - n. (Gr. syn, together; karpos, fruit) a multiple or aggregate fruit derived from numerous separate ovaries of a single flower; a collective unit, as a blackberry. syntepalous - flowers in which the tepals are fused. |