1. Plant Morphology Michael G. Simpson
Plant Structure Terms
Used for a specific structure/organ

3. Plant Habit Herb - plant with annual above-ground parts
= general form of a plant, encompassing stem duration and branching pattern, development, or texture.
Herb - plant with annual above-ground parts
Geophyte - perennial herb with rootstock
Vine - weak stemmed
Liana - woody vine
Shrub - woody, multiple stems from base
Subshrub - woody just above ground
Tree - woody, one trunk

4. Plant Duration Annual- ≤ 1 year Biennial- 2 years
= how long a plant lives.
Annual- ≤ 1 year
Biennial- 2 years
Perennial- 3 or more years

5. = environment where plant lives.
Plant Habitat
= environment where plant lives.
Terrestrial
Aquatic
Submersed
Floating
Emergent
Epiphytic
Saxicolous

6. = structure, life cycle, physiology.
Plant Life Form
= structure, life cycle, physiology.
Therophyte – annual
Geophyte – perennial herb
Epiphyte – plant growing on another plant
Halophyte – salt-adapted plants
Succulent – plant with fleshy leaves or stems
Xerophyte – plant living in dry, hot environments

7. Roots Function - absorption, anchorage
Structure - rootcap, root hairs, endodermis
Adventitious roots - arise from non-root organ
Lateral roots - arise from another root (1˚, 2˚, etc.)

9. Root Types/Parts
taproot
fibrous
prop
haustorial

10. storage roots Raphanus sativus, radish
Root Types/Parts
storage roots Raphanus sativus, radish

11. buttress roots Ficus rubiginosa, rusty-leaved fig
Root Types/Parts
buttress roots Ficus rubiginosa, rusty-leaved fig

12. pneumatophores Avicennia germinans, black mangrove
Root Types/Parts
pneumatophores Avicennia germinans, black mangrove

13. prop roots (also adventitious)
Root Types/Parts
prop roots (also adventitious)

14. = stem + associated leaves
Shoot
= stem + associated leaves

16. Each leaf primordium develops into one leaf. Caryota sp. Arecaceae ca
Each leaf primordium develops into one leaf. Caryota sp. Arecaceae ca. 20 feet long!

17. Stem (Shoot) Types
areole
bulb
caudex
caudiciform stem

18. Stem (Shoot) Types
cladode
corm
culm
fascicle/
short shoot
rhizome

19. Stem (Shoot) Types
scape
stolon/runner
thorn
tiller
tendril
tuber

20. Stem (Shoot) Types
pachycaul
pseudobulb

21. =relative position of stem (+ growth, structure)
Stem Habit
=relative position of stem (+ growth, structure)
prostrate
acaulescent
caulescent
cespitose
repent
arborescent
suffrutescent
decumbent

22. Stem Branching Pattern
sympodial
monopodial
dichotomous
sympodial

23. Twig Structure collateral superposed pseudoterminal naked
infrapetiolar

24. Leaf Structural Type bractlets scale bract phyllode tendril (leaf)
unifacial leaf
spine

25. Leaf Structural Type
Bract (flower)
Epicalyx
Bud Scale

26. Phyllode - Acacia spp. (Fabaceae)
Leaf Structural Type
Phyllode - Acacia spp. (Fabaceae)

27. Tendril - Lathyrus (Fabaceae)
Leaf Structural Type
Tendril - Lathyrus (Fabaceae)

28. Stipular Spine - Euphorbia spp. (Euphorbiaceae)
Leaf Structural Type
Stipular Spine - Euphorbia spp. (Euphorbiaceae)

29. Petiolar Spine - Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo (Fouquieriaceae)
Leaf Structural Type
Petiolar Spine - Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo (Fouquieriaceae)

30. Leaf Spine (arising from areole) - Cactaceae
Leaf Structural Type
Leaf Spine (arising from areole) - Cactaceae

31. Sharp things thorn - sharp-pointed stem/shoot (fr. axillary bud)
spine - sharp-pointed leaf or leaf part leaf spine (also leaflet spine) stipular spine petiolar spine
prickle - sharp pointed epidermal appendage

32. Pitcher Leaf - Nepenthes (Nepenthac.) Sarracenia (Sarraceniac.)
Leaf Structural Type
Pitcher Leaf - Nepenthes (Nepenthac.) Sarracenia (Sarraceniac.)

33. Tentacular Leaf - Drosera spp Sundew (Droseraceae)
Leaf Structural Type
Tentacular Leaf - Drosera spp Sundew (Droseraceae)

34. Trap Leaf - Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae)
Leaf Structural Type
Trap Leaf - Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae)

35. Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae)
Leaf Structural Type
Dionaea muscipula Venus Fly Trap (Droseraceae)

36. Leaf Structural Type
Iris sp.
unifacial

37. Mimosa pudica Fabaceae
Seismonasty
Mimosa pudica Fabaceae

38. Leaf Type / Parts imparipinnate simple pinnately compound paripinnate
bipinnately
compound

39. Leaf Type / Parts palmate-ternate pinnate-ternate biternately compound
palmately
compound
ternately compound
= trifoliolate

40. Leaf Type / Parts geminate unifoliolate bigeminate geminate-pinnate
costa-palmate

41. petiolate
sessile
sheathing
decurrent
amplexicaul
perfoliate
connate-perfoliate

42. Leaf Venation

43. Leaf Venation