Glossary
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- Paired
- Occurring in two's, e.g. two spikelets per node.
- Palea
- The adaxial bract of a floret; two-veined, arising from the floral axis.
- Panicle
- An inflorescence type in which the central axis branches and rebranches.
- Papilla
- A minute nipple-shaped projection.
- Papillose
- Having minute nipple-shaped projections on the surface.
- Pectinate
- An arrangement of parts resembling the teeth of a comb (e.g., the spikelets on Bouteloua hirsuta).
- Pedicel
- The stalk of a spikelet, except for spikelets on a spike inflorescence.
- Pedicellate
- Having a pedicel or stalk.
- Peduncle
- The stalk or stem of an inflorescence.
- Pendulous
- Drooping, hanging downward, suspended.
- Perennial
- Growing more than 2 years; completing several reproductive cycles.
- Perfect
- Flowers having both stamen and pistils (carpels).
- Pericarp
- The ripened ovary wall after it becomes a fruit.
- Persistent
- Remaining attached, either after other parts have been shed or for a considerable period.
- Petiole
- Stalk of a leaf blade.
- Pilose
- Long, soft hairs that are typically straight.
- Phytomere
- The basic unit of structure of the grass shoot, an internode together with the leaf and portion of the node at the upper end and a bud and portion of the node at the lower end.
- Pinnate
- Having two rows of lateral divisions along the main axis.
- Pistil
- Seed producing structure of a flower with ovary, style and stigma.
- Pistillate
- Applied to spikelets bearing female parts only and to an inflorescence or a plant with female flowers.
- Pithy
- The spongy tissue in the center of some stems e.g. Saccharum
- Pitted (pit)
- Marked with small depressions or pits.
- Plano-convex
- Flat on one side and convex on the other.
- Playa
- A dried up lake basin.
- Plumbeous
- Lead-colored.
- Plumose
- Feathery in appearance, having fine hairs on each side.
- Primary Branch
- Any branch arising from the main axis; all branches that come from the central axis of a grass inflorescence.
- Primary Unilateral Branch
- Any branch that originates from the central or main axis of a panicle inflorescence with spikelets along one side or what appears to be one side.
- Prophyll
- First leaf of a lateral branch; a sheath with 2 veins.
- Prostrate
- Lying flat on the ground.
- Puberulent
- Minutely pubescent.
- Pubescent
- Covered with short, soft hairs.
- Pulvini
- A swelling at the base of a leaf or a branch of the inflorescence.
- Punctate
- Covered with glandular dots, pits, or depressions.
- Pungent
- A sharp point; an acrid taste.
- Pyramidal
- Triangular in outline; shaped like a pyramid.