More botanical terms and other technical stuff

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G
Galium aparine ~ Sticky Weed. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Galium saxatile ~ Heath Bedstraw. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Gatekeeper Butterfly ~ Pyronia tithonus. Photo and description here.
Genotype ~ the genetical makeup of an individual. See Hybrids.
Genus ~ (pl. genera) a division in the classification of flowering plants. The first name in the binomial system, e.g. Papaver, Campanula, etc. See Classification of Plants.
Geraniaceae ~ Geranium Family.
Geranium ~ Cranesbill. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Geranium molle ~ Dovesfoot Cranesbill. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Geranium Family ~ Geraniaceae.
Germination ~ Germination of a Seed.
Gesneriaceae ~ African Violet Family.
Gonepteryx rhamni ~ Brimstone Butterfly. Photo and description here.
Goose Grass ~ Galium aparine. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Great Bindweed ~ Calystegia sepium. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Great Plantain ~ Plantago major. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Green-veined White Butterfly ~ Pieris napi. Photo and description here.
Greenfly ~ a green soft-bodied insect that damages plant tissue. See the Plant Pests Identification Chart.
Grey Mould ~ also known as Botrytis. A fungal disease that affects plants. See the Plant Pests Identification Chart.
Groundsel ~ Senecio sylvaticus. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Ground Thistle ~ Cirsium acaulon. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Gymnospermae ~ (Gymnosperms) - plants which don't produce flowers. See Classification of Plants.
Gynoecium ~ the gynoecium is the female reproductive structure of a flower. It comprises the stigma, the style and the ovary. See the Diagram of Parts of a Flower.

H
Hairy Bitter Cress ~ Cardamine hirsuta. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Hairy Tare ~ Vicia hirsuta. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Half Hardy ~ (plant) a plant that can withstand a winter temperature of at least -0oC (32oF). See the entry on Plant Hardiness.
Hamamelidae ~ One of the Superorders in plant classification. See Classification of Flowering Plant Families.
Hardiness ~ generally understood to be the degree of winter coldness a plant can survive. See the entry on Plant Hardiness.
Hardiness Zone ~ an area in which a plant can be expected to survive throughout the winter. See the entry on Plant Hardiness.
Hardy ~ (plant) a plant that can withstand a winter temperature of at least -15oC (5oF). See the entry on Plant Hardiness.
Hastate ~ spear-shaped (leaf). See the photos of Leaf Shapes and Arrangements.
Hawkbit ~ Leontodon. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Hawk's Beard ~ Crepis. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Heath Bedstraw ~ Galium saxatile A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Heath Family ~ Ericaceae.
Heat Zones ~ areas which have temperatures over 85oF for similar periods in the summer. See the entry on Plant Hardiness.
Heavy soil ~ a soil with a large component of clay in its makeup. See Soil.
Hedera helix ~ Ivy. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Hedge Brown Butterfly ~ Pyronia tithonus. Photo and description here.
Henbit ~ Lamium amplexicaule. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Hep, Hip ~ a fleshy fruit formed from a single flower, containing Achenes. See Fruits.
Herb ~ a plant grown mainly for its medicinal or culinary properties, or for its aromatic foliage. Botanically, a plant with non-woody stems, i.e. a herbaceous plant.
Herbaceous ~ a perennial plant that loses all its above-ground growth during the winter.
Herbarium ~ a collection of pressed plant specimens used for identification, usually kept in a botanic garden.
Hesperidium ~ a fleshy fruit formed from a single flower, with a tough, aromatic rind, containing several seeds. All fruits of this type are Citrus fruits. See Fruits.
Hilum ~ the scar on a seed where it was attached to the seed pod.
Hybrid ~ the offspring resulting from the crossing of plants with different genetical makeup. See Hybrids.
Hydrophyllaceae ~ Waterleaf Family
Hypochoeris ~ Cat's Ear. A weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the flower and seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.
Hypogeal ~ germination, where the seed leaf or leaves remain underground after germination. Opposite of epigeal. See photographs.

I
Inachis io ~ Peacock Butterfly. Photo and description here.
Indehiscent Fruits ~ seed heads in which the seeds are not enclosed in a pod. See Fruits.
Inferior Ovary ~ an ovary outside the flower, on the stalk side. See Pollination and Fertilisation.
Inflorescence ~ a stem with several flowers. See How flowers are arranged..
Internodal ~ between nodes (joints) - as in internodal cuttings, cuttings made between, not at, the leaf joints.
Internode ~ distance between nodes.
Iridaceae ~ Iris Family.
Iris Family ~ Iridaceae.
Ivy ~ Hedera helix. A climbing plant that can be a weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart.

J
John Innes ~ composts, made to particular formulae developed at the John Innes Horticultural Institute in Norwich, England

K

L
Labiate ~ (lipped) - a flower divided into an upper 'hood' and a lower flat or pouched lip, typical of members of the Deadnettle/Mint Family (Lamiaceae). See diagrams and photos of Flower Shapes.
Lamiaceae ~ Mint or Nettle Family (formerly Labiatae)
Lanceolate ~ lance-shaped (leaf). See the photos of Leaf Shapes and Arrangements
Latin names ~ meanings of common Latin plant names.
Leadwort Family ~ Plumbaginaceae
Leafminer ~ the larvae of small insects, which tunnel between the upper and lower surface of leaves, making light-coloured trails. See the Plant Pests Identification Chart
Leaf shapes ~ Leaf Shapes and Arrangements.
Leatherjacket ~ the leathery larvae of the Cranefly, which can damage underground plant tissue. See the Plant Pests Identification Chart
Legume ~ a dry dehiscent pod that splits on two sides. See Fruits. A bean or pea pod, or a member of the family Leguminosae.
Life Cycle ~ Diagram of the Life Cycle of a Plant
Light soil ~ a soil with a large component of (usually) sand in its makeup. See Soil
Ligulate ~ (strap-shaped) - a flower with one large, long, thin petal, typical of ray-florets of the Aster/Daisy Family (Asteraceae). See diagrams and photos of Flower Shapes.
Liliaceae ~ Lily Family
Lily Family ~ Liliaceae
Liverwort ~ a weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart
Loam ~ a soil with a balanced mixture of organic and inorganic matter. See Soil
Lobed ~ with several points (leaf). See the photos of Leaf Shapes and Arrangements
Loculicidal Capsule ~ a dry dehiscent fruit which splits along the locule (midrib of each ovary). See Fruits
Lomentum ~ a dry dehiscent fruit, a legume constricted between the seeds. See Fruits

M
Magnoliidae ~ One of the Superorders in plant classification. See Classification of Flowering Plant Families
Mallow Family ~ Malvaceae
Malvaceae ~ Mallow Family
Marsh Thistle ~ a weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart
Millipede ~ a small black animal that can damage plant tissue. See the Plant Pests Identification Chart
Mimosaceae ~ Bean Family (formerly Leguminosae)
Mint Family ~ Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae)
Monocarpic ~ plant which produces seed only once, usually living for more than two years before it does so.
Monocot, Monocotyledon ~ plant with a single seed leaf, eg. grasses and bulbs. Opposite of Dicotyledon.
Monoecious ~ (plant) - a plant with either male or female parts to its flowers. See Pollination and Fertilisation
Moss ~ a weed (or wildflower or herb). For a description and photo of the seedling, see the Weed Identification Chart
Musaceae ~ Banana Family

N
Nettle Family ~ Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae)
Node ~ a joint (leaf, flower stalk, etc.) on a stem.
Norman Deno ~ author of Seed Germination Theory and Practice
Nut ~ a large single hardened achene. See Fruits
Nutlet ~ a small single hardened achene, found in members of the Deadnettle/Mint Family (Lamiaceae). See Fruits

O
Oblanceolate ~ oblong, with the top wider than the bottom (leaf). See the photos of Leaf Shapes and Arrangements
Opposite ~ arising in pairs on opposite sides of the stem (leaf). See the photos of Leaf Shapes and Arrangements
Order ~ a division in the classification of flowering plants. See Classification of Plants and Classification of Flowering Plant Families.
Ovary ~ the chamber at the base of the style which holds the ovules. It may contain one or more ovules, in one or more parts. After the ovules have been fertilised, the ovary grows to form the fruit or seed pod. The ovary is usually either inside the flower ('superior'), or outside the flower, on the stem side ('inferior'). See the Diagram of Parts of a Flower and Pollination and Fertilisation.
Ovate ~ oval, tapering into a point (leaf). See the photos of Leaf Shapes and Arrangements
Ovule ~ the ovules are the female part of the new embryo plant which will be contained in the seeds. The seeds develop from the ovules after they have been fertilised by the pollen. See the Diagram of Parts of a Flower and Pollination and Fertilisation.
Oxalidaceae ~ Wood Sorrel Family

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