Glossary of Botanical Terms:

Action: Any of a variety of terms used to describe the effect an herb or other substance has on or in the body that may be considered therapeutic.

Acuminate: Becoming Gradually Pointed (as in a leaf).

Adnate: Grown attached.

Allopathy: The use of drugs or other means to antidote a disease or symptom, in a manner not necessarily cooperative with the body's natural functions.

Alluvial: The type of process where sedimentary materials, such as oils and rocks, are deposited or accumulated by flowing water.

Alternate: Arranged successively on opposite sides of the stem, or at definite angles.Neither opposite nor whorled.

Alternative: An action that gradually alters an existing condition in the body. A 'blood alternative' is often referred to as a 'blood cleanser,' as it alters the entrance of toxins and waste materials in the blood stream.

Analgesic: A pain-relieving substance.

Anesthetic: A substance that reduces painful sensitivity. Unlike general analgesics, anesthetics often can be applied locally.

Annual: A plant that blooms, distributes its seeds, then dies during its first and only year, Annuals depend solely on seed reproduction.

Anther: The stamen part containing pollen grains.

Anthropocentric: Regards the human as being the central fact or final aim of the universe.

Anticatarrhal: A substance capable of assisting the body in eliminating excess mucus from the upper respiratory tract - anti-inflammatory actions on the mucous membranes that are responsible for the secretions.

Antifungal: Capable of preventing or inhibiting fungal infections.

Antihidrotic: Capable of preventing or inhibiting perspiration.

Antihistamine: An herb or drug that alters histamine responses in the body - reduces discomforts of allergic reactions - motion sickness.

Antimicrobial: An action that helps the body to resist, inhibit, or destroy pathogenic microbes. Helps the body to fight bacteria, fungi, or viruses at the original point of infection.

Antioxidant: The ability of a substance to contrl or eliminate free radicals or reduce cellular oxidation in the body.

Antipyretic: Capable of reducing fever.

Antirheumatic: Capable of relieving the symptoms of rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Antiscorbutic: A substance that helps to prevent or cure scurvy or other imbalances relative to Vitamine C deficiency.

Antiseptic: Generally refers to substances that kill or inhibit growth of pathogenic microbes - relieving bacterial infections.

Antispasmodic: Capable of relieving spasms.

Antitussive: Capable of suppressing coughing.

Antiviral: Capable of inhibiting the reproduction or activity of a virus.

Apex, Apical: The top of a stem, leaf etc.

Arosulate: Without a rosette.

Astringent: Capable of tightening soft tissues in the body. Astringents are used to stop bleeding, to reduce inflammation, and to stop diarrhea.

Axil: The angle between the upper leaf surface and the stem to which it is attached.

Bacteriostatic: Specifically acting to inhibit the multiplication of bacteria.

Basal: Refers to the base of something. Basal leaves are the ones at the extreme lower end of the plant. They are usually the first true leaves to appear after germination.

Bi- (prefix) Two, or twice.

Biennial: A plant that blooms only during its second year of growth, then dies.

Bitter tonic: A substance that stimulates digestive functions, first in the mouth and later in the stomach and liver.

Bipinnate: When the leaflets of a compound leaf are themselves divided.

Bract: Leaf-like appendages subtending a flower.

Caducous: Falling off at an early stage.

Calcareous: Basic soils containing free calcium carbonate.

Caespitose: Dwarf sometimes rounded, tuft.

Calyx: Sepals as a whole.

Campanulate: Bell-shaped.

Capsule: Dry, dehiscent fruit.

Carpel: Floral part of the plant containing the ovaries.

Ciliate: With regularly arranged hairs projecting from the margin.

Compound (leaf) Divided into leaflets.

Cordate: Heart-shaped.

Corolla: The petals as a whole.

Corona: Crown, or top of a head - usually found on the inner side of the corolla.

Coumarin: A plant chemical smelling like new-mown hay (when leaves or stems are bruised or dried)

Corymb: Raceme with Pedicels becoming shorter near the top so that the flowers are on the same level.

Crenate: Regular rounded marginal teeth.

Cyme: An inflorescence whose growing points are each terminated with a flower, so that continued growth depends on the production of new lateral flowers.

Dentate: Tooth-like.

Dicotyledon: Those flowering plants with a pair of first leaves or cotyledons at germination.

Drupe: Succulent fruit containing a single stone. The stone is part of the wall of the fruit.

Emarginate: With a shallow notch at the apex.

Entire: Not toothed or cut - complete (leaves)

Epicalyx: Calyx-like structure outside, but close to, the true calyx.

Epiphyte: A plant growing on another plant, but not taking nutrients or water from it.

Farinose: Mealy-textured like damp flour.

Fascicle: Bundle.

-fid: (suffix) Lobe-like projection.

Glabrous: Without hairs.

Glaucous: Blueish, grayish - often wax-like.

Honey-Leaves: Petal-like parts of the flower with nectarines.

Inflorescence: Flowering branch; portion of stem, bracts and flowers above the last stem leaves.

Imbricate: Overlapping.

Internode: Part of the stem between two adjacent nodes.

Involucre: Bracts forming calyx-like structure around a condensed inflorescence.

Laciniate: Deeply divided into narrow, irregular segments.

Lanceolate: Spearhead shape of leaf.

Linear: Narrow, parallel-sided leaves.

Lobe: Divided portion, but not separate leaflets.

Lyrate: Leaf divided into several lobes with the smallest at the base.

Medicinal Action: Any of a variety of terms used to describe the effect an herb or other substance has on or in the body that may be considered therapeutic.

Microcosm: A tiny, often microscopic segment of an ecosystem represented by a specialized community of organisms. (The organisms in a patch of moss on a rock face.)

Microecosystem: A small segment of an ecosystem.

Mucilaginous: Vantaining musilage, a sticky-oily substance often used in herbal medicine to sooth and protect irritated tissues. (usualy used in emollients and demulcents)

Nephritic: Of or relating to the kidneys.

Nervine: Refers to substances that are toxic to the nervous system.

Node: Point on the stem where one or more leaves arise.

Noxious weed: A term used in reference to generally hateful plant species we do not like and want to eradicate.

Ob- (prefix) Inverted; an obvate leaf is broadest above the middle; an ovate leaf is broadest below the middle.

Obtuse: Blunt.

Ointment: Somewhere between a liquid extract and a salve. An ointment is a thickened herbal extract that is too loose to hold its form without a container.

Open-pollinated: Plant species that have not been genetically altered and are capable of reproducing in true form from generation to generation.

Opposite: Of two organs arising at the same level on opposite sides of the stem.

Orbicular: Rounded, with length and breadth about the same.

Ovate: Oval (egg shaped) with pointed ends.

Glossary of Botanical Terms:

Palmate: Consisting of more than three leaflets arising from the same point (of leaves).

Panicle: Branched raceme.

Pathogenic microbes: Microscopic organisms that act negatively on or in the body - such as harmful, infectious bacterias, fungi, and viruses.

Pedicel: Stalk of a single flower.

Peduncle: (pedunculate) Stalk of an inflorescence.

Peltate: Shield shaped; withpetiole joining on the underside to the center of the leaf.

Perennial: A plant that returns from its rootstock year after year.

Perianth: The floral envelopes; the calyx, corolla, or both.

Petal: The free lobe of a corolla in the flower; usually the colored inner series.

Petiole: Stalk of the leaf.

PH: A numerical measurement of acidity or alkalinity. Relating to soil, a pH level of 7.0 is regarded as neutral.

Photosynthesis: The process by which plants convert solar energy to carbohydrates.

Pinnate: Leaf composed of more than three leaflets arranged in two regular rows along a common stalk or rhachis.

Pinnatisect: Regular division of the leaf into lobes, cut almost down to the midrib.

Pollinator-attractor: A plant that is particularly attractive to insects and other organisms vital to pollination between plants.

Poultice: An herbal preparation made by mashing plant materials with a liquid to form a wet paste.

Polymorphic: Of many forms, varieties, or species.

Prostrate: Lying closely along the surface of the ground.

Purgative: An extremely strong laxative with uncontrollable effect. Purgatives generally cause abdominal cramping and near-incontinent conditions.

Raceme/Racemose: An unbranched inflorescence in which the flowers are borne on Pedicels, usually conical in outline.

Radical: Arising from the base of stem or rhizome.

Ray: The extended, bladelike petal of a ray flower.

Reflexed: Turned back upon its self.

Refrigerant: Capable of cooling the body temperature, usually by means of persperation.

Reticulate: Marked with a network of veins.

Rhizome: Underground stem lasting more than one season.

Rhomboid: The shape of a diamond in a pack of cards.

Riparian habitat: An ecosystem in proximity to a consistent source of water.

Rosette: Circular groups of leaves arising from a basal node (of leaves).

Rubifacient: A substance that reddens and heats the skin when applied topically. A mustard pack is an example.

Rugose: Wrinkled.

Salve: A preperation consisting of an herbal extract that has been thickened to the consistency of butter.

Saponin: A glycoside plant compound. Present in many species of plants, saponins are charecterized by their soaplike nature. Many saponins may be irritating to the digestive tract and may cause toxic reactions if ingested.

Saprophytic: Neither parasitic nor making its own food.

Scabrid/Scabrous: Rough to the touch.

Scale: Membranous appendage: often a degenerate leaf.

Sedative: An action that calms the nerves to help a person relax.

Sepal: A member of the outer series of flower parts (calyx); usually green.

Sessile: Without a stalk.

Simple: Referring to leaf characteristics, a simple leaf has margins (outer edges) that are void of any serrations, or lobes.

Sitz bath: A method of bathing where only the pelvic area of the body is immersed. Astringent herbs are sometimes used in sitz bath therapies for treatment of hemorrhoides, postpartum swelling, and other types of inflammation below the waist.

Spathulate, Spatulate: Paddle, or spoon shaped.

Spike: An inflorescence with sessile flowers arising from a main axis.

Spur: Hollow, narrow conical projection from the base of a petal or sepal.

Stamen: One of the male reproductive organs.

Stigma: The female, pollen-receptive part of a flower, which is usually at the upper most part of the flower center.

Stimulant: A general term used to describe the increase of functional activity.

Stipule: Scale-like or leaf-like appendage at base of the petiole and sometimes joined to it.

Stratification: A germination process by which a seed must be subjected to a prolonged period of cold temperatures and moisture to break its Dormancy.

Stolon: (stoloniferous) Creeping overground stem or short duration, often rooting at the nodes.

Streptococcus: A genus of gram-posativespherically shaped bacteria in microscopic chains.

Styptic: An agent that causes bleeding to stop by making tissues contract rapidly. Similar to astringent.

Sub- (prefix) Not quite, nearly.

Subalpine: A general term for the ecological zone that lies below timberline in mountain areas.

Symbiosis: A relationship in which two dissimilar organisms live together for mutual benefit.

Terminate: Referring to flowers that are the absolute end-tips of plant stems.

Ternate: Divided into three equal parts (of leaves)

Tincture: An herbal preparation made by soaking plant material in a liquid solvent (called a menstrum) to extract active medicinal Constituents.

Tonic: A general term for a nourishing substance that invigorates and increases the tone and strength of tissues and improves the function of one or more body systems.

Tri- (prefix) Three; i.e. trifid (split into three lobes).

Tuber: (tuberous) Swollen portion of root or stem of one year's duration ; storage organ.

Tubular: Parallel-sided cylinder.

Umbel (umbellate) An inflorescence in which the pedicels all arise from the same point at the top of a stem.

Undulate: Wavy in a plane at right angles to the surface.

Uterine stimulant: Capable of stimulating contraction of the uterus.

Uterotonic: Tonic to the uterus.

Vasoconstrictor: Capable of tightening the walls of blood vessels.

Vasodilator: Capable of dilating or widening blood vessels.

Vulnerary: Refers to actions that promote the healing of wounds.

Whorl: Ring of like parts, such as leaves or petals, around a point on an axis.