Cactus Info

K

KEEL   a longitudinal ridge, at the back of the leaf.
KEELED-MARGINATE   the leaf-keel veers over to form a leaf-margin ( Aloineae).

L

LACERATE   torn.
LACINIATE   cut into narrow lobes.
LAMINA   the blade of the leaf.
LANCEOLATE   lance-shaped, tapering from a broad base to the apex.
LAX   loose or limp, not densely arranged.
LECTOTYPE   a specimen chosen after the original description to be the type.
LIGULATE   star shaped.
LIGNOTUBER   woody tuber - tuberous rootstock.
LINEAR   narrow with nearly parallel sides.
LOCULUS   cavity or chamber of an ovary.

M

MACULATE   spotted.
MARCESCENT   withering without falling off.
MERICARP   the partial fruit of a schizocarp.
MIMICRY   protective resemblance to the surroundings, i.e. lithops amongst quartz patches.
MONOCARPIC   only flowering and fruiting once.
MONOCHASIAL   a cyme in which the branching is continued by a single lateral branch.
MONOTYPIC   a genus consisting of one species.

N

NAVICULATE   boat-shaped.
NECROTIC   applied to dead tissue.
NODE   the part of the stem that gives rise to the leaf and bud.
NOMEN NUDUM   the name of a taxon which has never been validated by a description.