community
Any naturally occurring group of organisms occupying a common environment. This term is a general one, covering various sized groups.

compound
Made up of two or more parts.

compressed
Flattened laterally.

convex
Rounded on the surface.

cool season
Used in reference to plants that initiate and complete much of their growth early in the growing season, or to those plants that maintain significant vegetative activity throughout most of the year.

cordate
Heart-shaped with the notch at the base and ovate in general outline.

corolla
The internal, usually showy, whorl of a flower; the portion of the flower composed of petals.

corymbose
Arranged in corymbs.

corymb
A flat-topped or convex racemose inflorescence, the lower or outer pedicels longer with their flowers opening first.

crenate
Having the margin cut with rounded teeth; scalloped.

crown
The persistent base of a herbaceous perennial; the aerial portion of a tree; the portion of a tree where the roots and stem join.

culm
The stem of a grass.

cup
The involucre of an acorn which is comprised of bracts.

cylindrical
Having the shape of a cylinder.

cyme
A flat-topped or convex inflorescence of pedicelled flowers with the central one opening first.

deciduous
Not persistent; falling off, as leaves of a nonevergreen tree in the fall.

decumbent
Lying down, but with the tip ascending.

decurrent
Extending down the stem below the point of attachment.

dehiscent
Opening spontaneously when ripe to discharge the contents.

deltoid
Equilaterally triangular.

dessicate
Dry out.

dichotomous
Forked regularly in pairs.

dioecious
Having staminate and pistillate flowers on different plants.

disk flower
In Asteraceae, the tubular flowers that usually make up the central portion of the head.

divided
Separated to the base.

drupe
A fleshy, 1-seeded, indehiscent fruit containing a stone with a kernel.

drupelet
A little drupe, often found in clusters, as in blackberries.

edge
The zone where different habitat types or plant communities come together.

elliptic
In the form of a flattened circle usually more than twice as long as broad.

elongate
Drawn out in length.

endocarp
The inner layer of the pericarp or fruit wall.

entire
With an unbroken or even margin; without teeth or other indentations.

erect
Upright in relation to the ground, or sometimes perpendicular to the surface of attachment.

exfoliate
To come off in scales or flakes.

family
A category or group of related plants or animals; in biological classification, the ranking above a genus and below an order.

fascicle
A close cluster or bundle.

fascicled
Referring to flowers, leaves, etc., that are arranged in fascicles.

fissures
Cracks or fractures in the bark of a tree.

flexuous
Bending alternately in opposite directions; zigzagged.

floret
An individual flower in Asteraceae (composites) and Gramineae (grasses).

foliaceous
Leaflike; said especially of sepals or bracts that in texture or appearance resemble leaves.

forb
Herbaceous plant other than a grass, sedge, or rush; usually broad-leaved.

fruit
The ripened pistil with all its accessory parts.

glabrous
Without hairs.

glandular
Bearing depressions, protuberances, or appendages on the surface of an organ which secrete an usually stick fluid.