alternate, alternating—when leaves alternate between left and right going up a stem
anther—the tip of the stamen holding male pollen
bract—modified leaf, sometimes colorful (e.g., poinsettia), that protects flowers or attracts pollinators
calyx—the outer whorl of sepals protecting the corolla
capitulum—dense, head-like cluster generally forming on the end of a stem
carpel—a female unit comprising stigma, style, and ovary
corolla—the inner whorl of petals
corymb—higher, inner pedicels are shorter than outer, giving some look of an umbel
elliptic—narrow rounded leaf shape coming to a point
flower—comprises four concentric whorls: calyx (sepals), corolla (petals), androecium (stamens), and gynoecium (pistil/carpels)
helicoid cyme—one or two rows of flowers growing on one side of a stem where the growing end may curve like a scorpion's tail
inflorescence—cluster of multiple flowers, often blooming from oldest to newest
involucre—the group of bracts and their arrangement surrounding and protecting the sepals
lanceolate—narrow leaf shape with rounded, wider base
node—growth point on a stem where new leaves, flowers, or stems develop
myccorhizal—symbiosis where fungus makes minerals from soil available to roots and gets carbohydrates from the plant, extending effective root range and a big boost in poor soils
oblanceolate—narrow leaf shape with rounded base and wider towards end
opposite, in opposition—when leaves emerge from both right and left side of a leaf node
ovary—contains one or more ovules and becomes the fruit
ovule—contains the female genetics and becomes the seed
panicle—the main stem produces side branches that also branch, each stem terminating in a flower
pedicil—short stem (optional) connecting flower to stem
petal—these colorful leaves that attract pollinators
petiole—short stem (optional) connecting leaf to stem
phylarry—a protective bract (see above) around the sepals, the unit of the involucre
pinnate—leaf composed of opposite leaflets. They are 'odd' if there is a terminal leaflet, otherwise 'even'. Some plants have leaflets of similar size. in Others, the leaflets taper or diminish going to the end. If the leaflets are themselves pinnate, or have deep notching resembling separation, the leaf may be considered doubly pinnate
pistil—the female part comprising one or more carpels
raceme—linear array of flowers with pedicels, blooming from bottom to top
sepal—protects the bud as the inner parts develop, often green like a leaf
sessile—describes parts attaching directly to a stem with no petiole or pedicel
spike—linear array of sessile flowers, blooming from bottom to top
stamen—a male flower part comprising anther and filament
stigma—the tip of the carpel receiving pollen
style—the shaft connecting the stigma to the ovary
tepal—case of indistinguishable sepals and petals, e.g., lilies and tulips
umbel—round or flat arrangement of flowers where pedicels share a common origin
whorl—three or more (flowers/petals/sepals/branches) radiating from a single node on the stem