Flower Glossary

Flower Glossary - Learn all the terms relating to flowers and plants

A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
		Floral Term	Meanings
a
		Achene	A single-seed dry fruit that does not split. A strawberry consists of many achenes embedded in a fleshy receptacle.
		Anther	The upper part of the stamen, attached to the filament, that produces the pollen of the flower.
		Axil	The upper angle between the leaf of a flower or plant and its stem, where a bud usually develops.
b
		Basal	Growth at the base of the plant
		Bract	A leaf, usually smaller than the true leaves of a plant, from the axil of which a flower stalk arises.
c
		Calyx	The outer whorl of floral leaves that form the protective covering of the flower bud.
		Conifer	Trees that reproduce by means of cones; generally evergreen, with slender prickly leaves (needles) or leaves with rounded points.
		Cyme	An inflorescence where the main axis and lateral branches are repeated and terminated by a flower.
d
		Deciduous	Trees that shed their leaves annually at the end of the growth period or at maturity.
		Digitate	The small leaf where the flower stalk joins the stem.
		Disbud	The removal of excess flower buds to achieve a single higher quality flower.
e
		Epicalyx	A second calyx outside the true calyx.
		Ethylene Gas	Decomposing leaves and flowers, along with fruits and vegetables can emit ethylene gas. Cut flowers exposed to ethylene gas will have a shortened vase life. Plants such as Bromeliads are exposed to ethylene gas to promote flowering.
f
		Falls	The three outer and often drooping segments of the flower of an iris.
		Filler flowers	Filler flowers are used to fill in and soften arrangements. These flowers are generally placed in the lower regions of the arrangement. "Baby's Breath" and "Statice" are examples of filler flowers.
		Fixative	Fixatives are fine aerosol sprays use to "glue" or hold fragile, fine stemmed or delicate dried flowers together. It helps to reduce breakage.
		Floret	The individual flowers that make a complete flower, or flowerhead.
		Form flowers	Form flowers have very distinct shapes. They are used as the focal point of an arrangement. Many form flowers can be arranged with other flowers or arranged alone.
		Flowerhead	A flower that is made up of a tight group of separate flowers, or florets (as in daisies).
g
h
		Hybrids	Hybrids are plants created by man, by crossing two naturally occurring species to develop a more vigorous plant. The end result is a hybrid plant with enhanced leaf or flower shapes, coloration or growth habit.
		Hydration	Hydration means plants or flowers taking up, or drinking water.
i
		Inflorescence	A flower cluster on a plant.
j
l
		Line flowers	Line flowers are generally stems that have a tall, narrow columnar spike of flowers. They can be used to give a flower arrangement a feel of height, or to create a vertical appearance.
m
		Mass flowers	Mass flowers have a single stem with one flower head. They are used as the focal point of an arrangement. "Roses" or "Carnations" are examples of mass flowers.
n
o
p
		Panicle	A loose, irregular flower cluster.
		Pedicel	A short slender stalk holding a flower or fruit.
q
r
		Raceme	An unbranched inflorescence having stalked flowers with the youngest growing at the tip.
s
		Spadix	A fleshy growth that extends from flowers resembling a tail.
		Spike	A simple elongated inflorescence with the individual flowers unstalked.
		Stamen	The male orgen of a flower, consisting of a stalk or filament, with the pollen-producing anther at the end.
t
u
		Umbel	A flower cluster where the pedicels rise from the top of the main stem to form a flat or rounded cluster.
v
w
x
y
z