Glossary of Taxonomic Terms Related to The Slipper Orchids

Source: Simpson, MG. Plant Systematics. Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press; 2006.

Color Pattern

maculate - having small spots with a more or less uniform background
pellucid - having translucent spots or patches
variegated - having two or more colors occuring in various irregular patterns (usually used to describe leaves)

Texture

cartilaginous - hard and tough but flexible
coriaceous - thick and leathery, but somewhat flexible
herbaceous - soft or slightly succulent
indurate - hardened and inflexible
membranous - thin and somewhat translucent
mesophytic - intermediate between coriaceous and membranous
ruminate - unevenly textured, coarsely wrinkled, looking as if chewed
scareous - thin and appearing dry, usually whitish or brownish
succulant [baccate or carnose] - fleshy and juicy
woody - having a hard, woodlike texture

3D-shapes (add -oid to a 2D shape to get more terms)

capitate - head shaped, spherical with a short basal stalk
globose - spherical
hemispheric - half-sphere shaped
prolate - ellipsoid where the long axis is parallel to the point attachment
oblate - ellipsoid where the long axis is perpendicular to the point of attachment
clavate - club shaped, cylindrical with a gradually tapering, thickened and rounded end
discoid - disk shaped
fusiform - spindle shaped, narrowly ellipsoid with two attenuate ends
filiform - threadlike or filamentous, being long, thin, and typically flexuous
fistulose, fistular - cylindrical and hollow
lenticular - lens-shaped, disk-shaped with two convex sides
ligulate - tongue shaped, flattened and somewhat oblong in shape
pilate - with a long, cylindrical stalk terminating in a globose or ellipsoid apical thickening
terete - general plant term meaning cylindrical
turbinate - top-shaped

Normal 2D-shape

linear, narrowly oblong, oblong - sides straight and roughly parallel
narrowly elliptic, elliptic, widely elliptic, orbicular - margins symmetrically curved with the widest point near the midpoint
lanceolate, lance-ovate, ovate, widely ovate, very widely ovate - margins symmetrically curved with the widest point near the base
oblanceolate, oblance-ovate, obovate, widely obovate, very widely obovate - margins symmetrically curved with the widest point near the apex
narrowly triangular, triangular, widely triangular, deltate - three sided shape in which the sides are roughly straight

Special 2D-shapes

ensifom - sword-shaped
strap-shaped - flat, not needle-like, sides straight and roughtly parallel
rhombic - four sided, parallelogram-like, widest near the middle
trullate - four sided, widest near the base
cordate(cordiform) - inverse-heart-shaped, roughly ovate with a cordate base
pandurate - violin-shaped, obovate with the side margins concave
reniform - kidney shaped, wider than long with a rounded apex and reniform base
spatulate - oblong, obovate, or oblanceolate with a long attenuate base
subulate - awl-shaped, ~narrowly oblong to narrowly triangular

Base Shapes

attenuate - sides are incurved or approximately straight, basal margins concave
narrowly cuneate, cuneate, obtuse- basal margins approximately straight
truncate - basal margin cut straight across
rounded - basal margins convex, forming a single, smooth arc
cordate - having two rounded, smooth, basal lobes intersecting at a sharp angle
reniform - having two rounded, smooth, basal lobes with smoothly concave intersection

Apex Shapes

acuminate - apical margins concave
caudate - abruptly acuminate into a long, narrowly triangular apical region
cuspidate - abruptly acuminate into a triagular, stiff, or sharp apex
narrowly acute, acute, obtuse - margins roughly straight
truncate - margin cut straight across
rounded - convex apical margins, forming a singal, smooth arc
emarginate - having an apical incision cut 1/16 - 1/8 of the distance to midrib, midvein, or junction of primary veins
retuse - having an apical incision cut up to 1/16 of the distance to midrib, midvein, or junction of primary veins

Margin Characteristics (the edge of an object)

teeth - extend no more than 1/8 of the distance to the midline
entire - without teeth
serrate - sawlike teeth, sharp pointed and ascending, cut 1/16 - 1/8 of the distance to midline
serrulate - diminuitive of serrate, teeth cut to 1/16 the distance to midline
dentate - teeth that point outward at right angles to the margin outline, cut 1/16 - 1/8 of the distance to midline
denticulate - diminuitive of dentate, cut to 1/16 of the distance to midline
crenate - rounded to obtuse teeth that point outward at right angles or shallowly ascend, with teeth cut 1/16 - 1/8 of the distance to midline
crenulate - diminuitive of crenate, teeth cut to 1/16 of the distance to midline
ciliate - with trichomes (plant hairs) protruding from margins
ciliolate - with minute trichomes protruding from margins (minutely ciliate)
involute - with margins rolled upward
revolute - with margins rolled under

Division (the presence and characteristics of sinuses [incisions])

lobed - sinuses extending 1/8 to 1/4 of the distance to the midline
cleft - sinuses extending 1/4 to 1/2 of the distance to the midline
parted - sinuses extending 1/2 to 3/4 of the distance to the midline
divided - sinuses extending 3/4 to almost to the midline
decompound - deeply divided into numerous segments such that leaflets are not clearly defined
sinus shapes

dissected - divided into very fine, often indistinct segments
bifid - 2-lobed to 2-divided, especially at the apex
incised - the sinuses are sharp and deeply cut, usually jaggedly
sinuate - the sinuses are shallow and smooth, wavy in a horizontal plane
lacerate - sinuses that are irregularly cut, the lobes appearing torn
laciniate - lobes that are cut into narrow, ribbonlike segments
pectinate - comblike, being pinnately divided with close, very narrow lobes

Disposition (the relative placement of objects)

position (relative to unlike parts)

adaxial - the upper or inner surface of an organ
abaxial - the lower or outer surface of an organ
posterior - with respect to a horizontally oriented structure, the upper lobe or part
anterior - with respect to a horizontally oriented structure, the lower lobe or part
basal / radical - at or near the bottom or base of a structure
proximal - near the point of orrigin or attachment
apical / terminal - at or near the top, tip, or end of a structure
distal - away from the point of origin or attachment
lateral / axillary - on the side of a structure or at the axil (the adaxial region of a node)
central - at or near the middle or middle plane of a structure
circumferential - at or near the circumference of a rounded structure
radical / basal - positioned at the base of the stem
cauline - positioned along the length of the stem
acrocaulis - positioned at the apex of the stem

arrangement (relative to like parts)

distichous - alternate with points of attachment in two vertical rows/ ranks
imbricate - a general term for leaves or other structures overlapping
valvate - the sides are enrolled so that the margins touch

orientation (relative to a central axis)

appressed - pressed closely to axis upward, with divergence angle of 0-15 from upper axis
ascending - directed upward, wih divergence angle of 15-45 from upper axis
inclined - directed upward, with divergance angle of 15-45 from horizontal axis
divergent / horizontal (divaricate, patent) - more or less horizontally spreading
reclined/ reclinate - directed downward, with divergence angle of 15-45 from horizontal axis
descending - directed downward, with divergence angle of 15-45 from lower axis
depressed - pressed closely to axis downward, with divergence angle of 0-15 from lower axis
antrorse - bent or directed upward, usually referring to small appendages
retrorse - bent or directed downward
connivent - convergent apically without fusion
erect - pointing upward
pendant / pendulous - hanging downward loosely or freely
deflexed - bent abruptly downward
reflexed - bent or turned downward

posture (relative to a flat plane)

transverse posture - the placement of the tip (distal end) of an object with respect to a starting plane

recurved - tip gradually curved outward or downward (abaxially)
cernuous - tip drooping downward (abaxially)
squarrose - sharply curved downward or outward (abaxially) near the apex
incurved - tip gradually curved inward or upward (adaxially)
plane/ straight - flat, without vertical curves or bends
flexuous - the central axis and tip curved up and down

longitudinal posture - the placement of the margins of an object with respect to a starting plane

conduplicate - longitudinally folded at central axis, with adjacent adaxially sides facing one another
revolute - with margins or outer portions of side rolled outward or downward over the abaxial surface
involute - with margins or outer portion of sides rolled inward or upward over adaxial surface
cup-shaped - concave-convex along entire surface (may be adaxially or abaxially concave)
plicate - pleated with a series of longitudinal folds
induplicate - plicate with adhacent adaxial sides facing one another, V-shaped in cross section
reduplicate - plicate with adjacent abaxial sides facing one another (A-Shaped in cross-section_
undulate/ repand - with margins wavy in a vertical plane

twisting/ bending posture - refers to the posture of a twisting or bending object relative to a starting plane

resupinate - inverted or twisted 180, as in most ovaries of Orchidaceae flowers
geniculate - having a 'zig-zag' posture
dextrorse - twining helically like a typical, right-handed screw
sinistrorse - twining helically like a left-handed screw

Surface

configuration (gross surface patterns of the epidermal cells)

canaliculate - longitudinally grooved, usually in relation to petioles or midribs
fenestrate - having windowlike holes in the surface
punctate - covered with minute, pitlike depressions
rugose / bullate - covered with coarse reticulate lines, usually with raised blisterlike areas between
ruminate - unevenly textured, coarsely wrinkled, looking as if chewed
smooth / plane - with a smooth configuration
striate - with fine longitudinal lines
wrinkled - with irregular, fine lines or deformations

epidermal excrescence (surface patterns caused by secretions or structural outgrowths of the epidermis)

glandular - covered with minute, blackish to translucent glands
glaucous - covered with a smooth, usually whitish, waxy coating (that can be rubbed off with touch)
shining (nitid / laevigate) - appearing lustrous or polished
viscid / glutinous - having a shiny sticky surface
aculeate / prickly - with prickles (sharp nonspine, nonthorn appendages)
farinaceous (scurfy / granular) - finely mealy, covered with small granules
muricate - having coarse, radially elongate, rounded protuberances
papillate / tuberculate / verrucate - having minute, rounded protuberances
scabrous - having a rough surface, like that of sandpaper

vestiture (trichome cover)

trichomes - surface hair-like structures
glabrous - without trichomes at all
subglabrous - with just a few, scattered trichomes
glabrate - becoming glabrous with age by loss of trichomes
bearded - with a single tuft or patch of trichomes arising from the surface of an object
comose - an apical tuft of trichomes
ciliate - with conspicuous marginal trichomes
ciliolate - with tiny or small marginal trichomes
pubescent - with more or less straight, short, soft, somewhat scattered, slender trichomes (sometimes used as a general term for having trichomes)
puberulent - pubescent but with very short or sparse trichomes
canescent/ incanous - whitish-pubescent, covered with dense, fine grayish to white trichomes
tomentose - covered with very dense, interwoven trichomes
tomentulose - tomentose but with very short trichomes
villous / lanate - covered with long, soft, crooked trichones
pilose - having soft, straight to slightly shaggy trichomes, generally at right angles to the surface
arachnose / arachnoid - having trichomes forming a dense, cobwebby mass
scabrous - having rough trichomes, like that of sandpaper
scaberulous - minutely scabrous
hirsute - having long, rather stiff trichomes
hispid - having very long, stiff trichomes, often capable of penetrating skn
urent - having hispid trichomes that are stinging
strigose - covered with dense, coarse, bent and mostly flat trichomes often with a bulbous base
strigulose - minutely strigose
sericeous - with long appressed trichomes that have a silky appearance or sheen
floccose - having dense trichomes that are in several patches or tufts

trichome type (microscopic structure of individual trichomes)

unicellular - consists of a single cell and is usually quite small
multicellular - contains two or more cells
uniseriate - having a single vertical row of cells
multiseriate - having more than one vertical row of cells
tapering - ending in a sharp apex
malpighian / two-armed - with two arms arising from a common base
glandular - secretory or excretory, usually having an apical glandular cell
pilate-glandular - with a glandular cell atop an elongate basal stalk
capitate-glandular - with a glandular cell having a very short or no basal stalk
stellate - star-shaped having several arms arising from a common base (either stalked or sessile)
dendritic - treelike with multiple lateral branches
peltate - with a disk-shaped apical portion atop a pelately attached stalk
intravaginal (axillary) squamules - trichomes found in the axils of typically sheathing leaves
bristles - similar to trichomes but are generally much stouter
plumose - feather-like, covered with fine, elongate, ciliate appendages
uncinate / hooked - with an apical hooklike structure
glochidiate - with apical, clustered barblike structures

Symmetry

zygomorphic/ bilateral (irregular) - having one plane of symmetry
biradial - having two planes of symmetry
actinomorphic/ radial - with three or more planes of symmetry
asymmetric - lacking any plane of symmetry

Temporal Phenomena

duration

plant duration - describes the length of life of an entire plant, annuals, biennials, or perennials
annual - a plant living 1 year or less, typically living for one growing season within the year, annual plants are herbs
biennial - a plant living 2 years, usually flowering in the second season
perennial - a plant living more than 2 years
evergreen - persistent two or more growing seasons
deciduous - persistent for one growing season, then falling off

maturation (relative time of development of plant parts)

anthesis - the time of flowering, when flowers open with parts available for pollination
protandrous - stamens or anthers developing before the carpels or stigma
protogynous - stigma or carpels developing before the stamens or anthers

periodicity

diurnal - during the day
nocturnal - during the night
matutinal - in the morning
vespertine - in the evening
vernal - appearing in spring
aestival - appearing in summer
autumnal - appearing in fall

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