FERN GLOSSARY |
ACROSCOPIC
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Those segments of the blade on the upper side of the pinna rachis, facing the apex of the frond |
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ADNATE:
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Fused, usually laterally, to an unlike structure, as blade to rachis |
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APOGAMY:
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The formation of a sporophyte from a gametophyte by asexual means such as budding, rather than by egg formation; also refereed to as apomitic although this term covers a broader meaning. |
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ARISTATE:
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Tapering to a narrow elongate apex or spike. |
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AURICULATE:
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Bearing one or two auricles |
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AURICLE:
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A low, basal lobe |
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BASISCOPIC
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Those segments on the lower side of the pinnae rachis, facing the base of the frond. |
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BIPINNATE
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Pinnae divided two times |
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BLADE
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The expanded leafy portion of a frond not including the stipe. |
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BUBIL
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An asexual bud occurring on the main or secondary rachis capable of forming a new plant before or after being detached from the parent. |
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CAUDATE:
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Bearing a narrow, elongate tail |
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CAUDEX
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The central crown or upright rhizome of a fern. |
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CONGESTED
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Rachis shortened so that the pinnules overlap like shingles on a roof; associated with dwarf forms. See IMBRICATE |
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CONNATE
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Fused, usually laterally, to a similar structure, as one pinna to another |
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CRISPED
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Having the margins waved or curled. |
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CRISTATE
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When the pinnae or pinnules are divided into one or more terminal divisions from the normal form. |
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CREEPING
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Extending horizontally in or on the soil |
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CRENATE
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Shallowly scalloped, with rounded teeth |
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CROZIER
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Young uncoiling frond; fiddlehead. |
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CUSPIDATE
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Rather abruptly constricted at the apex to a narrow, sharp-pointed tip |
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DELTATE
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Broadly triangular with an obtuse apex |
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DEPAUPERATE:
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Having missing or defective parts; as in the linearis section |
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DIMORPHIC:
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Having two distinct shapes; in ferns this usually refers to sterile versus fertile blades or portions of blades. |
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ELLIPTIC:
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Having the outline of an elongate circle |
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ELONGATE:
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Much longer than wide |
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FALCATE:
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Sickle-shaped; curved and flat. |
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FARINA:
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A white, yellow, or other colored , waxy appearing exudates of glands; in ferns especially in the desert or xeric ferns. |
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FERTILE:
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Having sporangia and producing viable spores. |
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FIDDLEHEAD:
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Young uncoiling frond; fiddlehead. |
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FIMBRIATE:
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fringed; dissected into fine segments. |
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FROND:
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A fern leaf including the stipe and the blade. |
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GRANDICEPS:
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Having a much divided terminal crest; capitate. |
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IMBRICATE:
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Rachis shortened so that the pinnules nearly overlap one another; associated with dwarf forms |
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LACERATE:
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Deeply and irregularly cleft on the margin |
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LANCEOLATE:
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Shaped like a lance or spear-head, as of leaves tapering at both ends, much longer than broad, and wider below the middle. |
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LOBE:
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A portion of a balde, pinna, or pinnule, or segement, that is fully connate and with a shallow sinus on either side that extends no more thanhalf way from the lobe apex to the axis that the lobe is attached to |
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MARGINATE:
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Having a margin with a distinctive fringed or cut character. |
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PERCRISTATE:
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All tips crested including the pinnules; crests on crests. |
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PINNA (Pl. PINNAE):
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Primary division of a compound blade. |
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PINNATE:
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Divided simply with the pinnae arranged on either side of the rachis. |
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PINNATIFID:
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Divided into lobes, with the clefts reaching halfway or more but not completely to the supporting rachis. |
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PINNULE:
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A division of a pinna; ultimate segment. |
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RACHIS:
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Midrib of a blade; continuation of the stipe through the blade. |
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RHIZOME:
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A dorsiventral stem of a root-like appearance which produces fronds above and roots below; usually creeping although in some ferns it forms a clump holding the fronds close together, and in others it is short, thick and upright; a caudex, producing a tufted appearance. |
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SCALE:
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A membranous chaffy hair found on the rhizome, stipe and occasionally on the blade surface. |
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SERRATE:
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Toothed; having margins notched like a saw. |
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SETOSE:
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Having bristly straight hairs |
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SORUS (Pl. SORI):
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Arrangement or cluster of spore cases. |
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SPORANGIUM:
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A small stalked capsule in which spores grow; the spore case. |
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SPORE:
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A minute asexual body. |
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STIPE:
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Leaf stalk of a fern excluding the leafy portion. |
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TRIPINNATE:
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Pinnae divided three times |
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VEIN:
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A strand of vascular tissue in a frond or part of a frond that conducts water and nutrients and strengthens the structure. |