Definitions G thru L

GALEATE (GAY-le-ate) - Helmet shaped.
GAMETAL (GAM-e-tal) - Pertaining to or the nature of a gamete.
GAMETE (GAM-ete) - A sexual cell or germ cell.
GAMETOPHYTE (GAM-e-to-FYTE) - In the alternation of generations in plants, that generation or phase which bears sex organs.
GAMOPHYLLOUS (GAM-oh-FILL-us) - Leaves united.
GEMINATE (JEM-i-nate) - In pairs; twin.
GENE (jeen) - Self duplicating unit of inheritance located in chromosome, recognized by constant effect on an individual for a particular character, and remaining relatively unchanged from cell-division to cell-division and from generation to generation.
GENERA (JEN-er-a) - Plural of genus.
GENERIC (jen-AIR-ik) - Relative to a genus.
GENICULATE (je-NIK-yew-late) - Knot or joint; bent abruptly at an angle.
GENOMES (JE-nomes) - Complete set of chromosomes inherited from one parent as a unit. A group of characters handed down from plant to plant.
GEOTROPISM (je-OT-ro-pism) - Plant growth response, effected by bending towards or away from gravitational field of the earth. Roots are positively geotropic, stems negatively geotropic.
GENUS (JEE-nus) - (pl. genera) A closely related group of plants. The first, and capitalized, word in a scientific name of a plant.
GERMINATION (JER-MI-nay-SHUN) - The unfolding of the embryo and self establishment of the plantlet.
GIBBOUS (GIB-us) - Protuberant or swollen on one side.
GLABRATE (GLAY-brate) - Hairy at first but losing hair with increasing age.
GLABROUS (GLAY-brus) - Free from hair or down, smooth skinned.
GLADIATE (GLAD-i-ate) - Having sword-shaped foliage.
GLAUCOUS (GLAU-kus) - Covered with bluish-gray, bluish-green or whitish bloom of wax; a sea-green color, coated with a waxy powder.
GLOBOSE (GLOW-bose) - Nearly spherical; Rounded or spherical shape.
GLOMERATE (GLOM-er-ate) - Gathered together in a compact cluster.
GLOMERULE (GLOM-er-rool) - An inflorescence consisting of a compact or sessile cyme.
GLUMACEUS (gloo-MAY-shus) - Chaffy in texture.
GLUTINOUS (GLOO-ti-nus) - With a sticky or adhesive surface; with a sticky exudate.
GRACILIS (gracile) (GRASS-i-lus, GRAS-il) - slender and graceful.
GRAMINIFOLIUS (GRAM-i-ni-FOLE-ius) - Having grass-like leaves.
GRANDIFLORUS (grand-di-FLORE-us) - Having flowers large in comparison with others of the genus.
GRANDIFOLIUS (GRAN-di-FOLE-i-us) - Having leaves larger than its congeners.
GRANULOSE (GRAN-yew-lose) - Composed of or appearing as if covered by minute grains.
GRAVEOLENS (gra-VEE-o-lens) - Strong smelling.
GREX (grex) - All siblings of the same seed cross.
GUTTATE (GUT-tate) - Spotted.
GUTTATION (gu-TAY-shun) - Escape of water and dissolved salts through hydathodes under conditions favoring rapid absorption of water by roots but resulting in reduced transpiration rate.
GYMNOS (JIM-nose) - In Greek compounds signifying "naked" or not covered, as Gymnosperms, with naked seeds (not in a pericarp).
GYNANDROUS (ji-NAN-drus) - Junction of stamens and style.
GYNOSTEMIUM (JIN-oh-stee-mi-um) - Column-like structure formed by fusion of stamens to style and stigma, a character of the family Orchidaceae.
HABITAT - The type of place, or environment, in which a orchid normally grows.
HAPLOID (HAP-loid) - With a single set of unpaired chromosomes in the nucleus.
HAPUU (HAH-poo) - Hawaiian term for tree-fern fiber.
HASTATE (HAS-tate) - Of leaves, triangular with the basal angles or lobes spreading.
HERBACEOUS (her-BAY-shus) - Without woody tissue, green and succulent.
HERBARIUM SHEET - A paper with a prepared and dried plant specimen used for identification.
HERMAPHRODITE (her-MAF-ra-dite) - A flower having both the male and female organs.
HERMAPHRODITIC (her-maf-ro-DI-tic) - With stamens and pistils in the same flower.
HETEROBLASTIC (HET-er-OH-BLAS-tik) - Having an indirect embryonic development; arising from cells of another kind.
HETEROCARPUS (HET-er-oh-KAR-pus) - Having variable or various kinds of seed-pods.
HETEROSIS (het-er-OH-sis) - Property of a hybrid displaying one or more characters in greater degree than either of its parents due to recombination of dominant and recessive genes. Hybrid vigour.
HIPPOCREPIFORM (HIP-po-CREP-i-form) - Horseshoe-shaped.
HIRSUTE (HUR-sute) - Pubescent with rather coarse or stiff hairs.
HISPID (HIS-pid) - With rigid or bristly hairs or with bristles.
HOST - A plant from which a parasite plant derives its nourishment. A tree on which an epiphytic plant grows.
HUMIDITY (hew-MID-i-ty) - The relative amount of moisture in the air.
HUMILIS (HEW-mi-lis) - Low growing.
HUMUS (HEW-mus) - Finely divided organic matter from decomposed vegetable litter together with the mineral material from which it is incorporated in the soil.
HYALINE (HYE-a-lin) - Glassy, transparent, translucent when viewed in transmitted light; almost like clear glass.
HYBRID (HYE-brid) - Result of a cross between two plants not of the same variety.
HYBRIDIZATION (HYE-brid-eye-ZA-shun) - Causing the production of hybrids by crossing different species or varieties.
HYBRID SWARM - A cross between two species that becomes fertile and breeds true, imitating a true species.
HYDROPONICS (hye-droh-PON-iks) - A soiless method of growing plants, using nutrient solutions and an inorganic supporting medium.
HYPANTHIUM (hip-AN-thi-um) - a floral cup or tube.
HYPHA (HYE-fee) - The branched cylindrical thread-like structure which constitutes the vegetative body of a fungus.
HYPHAEMATICUS ((hye-fee-MA-ti-kus) - Blood red underneath.
HYPOCHILE (HYE-po-kile) - The lower part of the labellum in certain orchids.
IMBRICATE (Im-bri-kate) - Leaves arranged so as to overlap, like roofing tiles or shingles, or fish scales.
INCISED (in-SIZ'D) - With margins cut into deep sharp irregular teeth.
INCRASSATE (in-KRAS-sate) - Thickened or swollen.
INCUMBENT (in-KUM-bent) - Resting or leaning upon another organ.
INDETERMINATE (in-dee-TUR-min-ate) - Of indefinite or protracted growth as an axis of an inflorescence not terminated by a terminal flower.
INDIGEN (IN-di-jen) - Native to a specific area.
INDIGENOUS (in-DI-jen-us) - Native to a country or area; not introduced. part of the original natural flora of a region (but not necessarily endemic)
INDURATE (IN-doo-rate) - Hard, hardened.
INFERIOR (in-FEER-i-or) - Ovaries when situated beneath perianth, as in an orchid. Below.
INFLORESCENCE (in-flo-RES-ens) - The flowering part of a plant. The arrangement in which flowers are borne on a plant.
INFRASTIGMATIC (in-fra-stig-MAT-ik) - Below the stigma.
INFUNDIBULUM (in-fun-DIB-u-lum) - A funnel.
INHIBITION (in-hi-BISH-un) - Suppression of a phase or growth or development.
INSIGNIS (in-SIG-nis) - Noble, admirable, conspicuous.
INTERGENERIC hybrid - A hybrid between members of two or more genera.
INTERMEDIATE HOUSE A growing house with night temperatures about 55-60 (F) degrees. Day time temperatures about 70-75 (F).
INTERNODES (IN-ter-nodes) - Part between two nodes or joints.
INTORTED (in-TORT-ed) - Twisted upon or around itself.
INTRORSE (in-TRORS) - Turned inwards or towards the axis.
IN VITRO (in-VEE-tro) - Living organism observable in an artificial environment (such as a test tube) theoretically simulating the organism's natural habitat.
INVOLUTE (IN-voh-lute) - Rolled inward at the margin or edge. Said of foliage leaves in vernation or of floral leaves in aestivation.
IRRORATUS (IR-o-rate-us) - Dewy; moistened or sprinkled with dew.
ISTHMUS (IS-mus) - A connecting part, especially when narrow or joining structures larger than itself.
JOINTED - having nodes, or points of real or apparent divisions along the stem or psuedobulb.
KEEL - Any ridge-like process.
KEELED - Of leaves or bracts, folded and ridged along the midrib.
KEIKI (KAY-i-ki) - Hawaiian term to signify an off-shoot or off-set from a plant. Used when referring to Dendrobiums, Phalaenopsis, or Vandaceous orchids.
LABELLUM (la-BEL-lum) - The lip, a modified petal. - (in orchids) the usually large and distinctive pedal that commonly juts forward from the flowers center.
LABIATE (LAY-bi-ate) - Lipped as the bilabiate corolla characteristic of the Labiatae family.
LACINIATE (la-SIN-i-ate) - Slashed; cut into narrow pointed segments.
LAMELLAE (la-MEL-eye) - Scales or appendages at the base of a petal in some corolllas; like gills of a fish or mushroom.
LAMINA (LAM-i-na) - Usually the blade or expanded part of a foliage leaf, as distinguished from the petiole. Also, the expanded portion of a petal or sepal of a flower.
LAMINAR (LAM-i-nar) - Thin and flat, resembling a leaf blade.
LAMINATUS (lam-i-NATE-us) - Covered with plates or scales.
LANATE (LAN-ate) - Woolly.
LANCEOLATE (LAN-se-o-late) - Lance shaped, several times longer than wide; tapering at both ends, widest about 1/3 above the base.
LANUGINOSE (la-NEW-ji-nose) - Covered with down or soft fine hair.
LANUGINOUS (see LANUGINOSE)
LAPIDOSE (LAP-i-dose) - Found in stony places.
LASIOGLOSSUS (LA-sii-o-GLOS-sus) - Woolly tongued.
LATERAL (LAT-er-al) - On or at the side of. "the lateral branches of a tree shot out sidelong the boughs."
LATH HOUSE - Lattice work structure which provides broken shade for orchids grown outside in warm climates.
LATIFOLIOUS (LAT-i-FOH-li-us) - Broad lobed.
LATILOBA (lat-i-LOW-ba) - Broad lobed.
LAXUS (LAKS-us) - Loose, usually applied to flower spikes.
LEAD (Leed) - A new terminal bud that will grow into a new pseudobulb.
LIGULATE (lig-YEW-LATE) - Strap-shaped.
LIGULE (LIG-yule) - A thin appendage of a foliage leaf at the junction of blade and petiole; a tongue-like or strap-like shaped part.
LINEAR (LIN-e-ar) - Long and narrow, with parallel margins, like a blade of grass.
LINEATE (LIN-e-ate) - With thin parallel lines; pencilled with fine lines.
LINEATUS (See LINEATE)
LINEOLATE (LIN-e-oh-late) - Marked with fine lines.
LINGUIFORM (LIN-gwi-form) - Tongue-shaped.
LINGULATE (LIN-gu-late) - Tongue-shaped.
LIP - The labellum; the third or unpaired petal. The modified petal of the orchid flower specialized to aid in pollination and different than the other petals.
LITHOPHYTE (LITH-o-fite) - Plants that grow on rocks but secure their nourishment from the atmosphere and from accumulated debris (natural compost).
LOBATE (LOH-bate) - Furnished with lobes.
LOBE - Any part or segment of an organ.
LOBULES (LOB-yewls) - A small lobe; any rounded division or projection of an organ, especially a leaf.
LOCULE (LOKE-yewl) - Compartment or cell of a pistil or anther.
LONGICOLLIS (Lon-ji-COL-us) - Having a long neck.
LONGICORNUS Lon-ji-KOR-nus) - Having a long horn.
LONGIFOLIUS (Lon-ji-FOH-li-us) - Having a long leaf.
LONGISCAPUS (Lon-ji-SKAPE-us) - Having a long flower stalk.
LORATE (LOH-rate) - Strap-shaped.
LUCID (LEW-sid) - Shining, referring to the surface of an organ.
LUNATUS (LEW-nay-tus) - Crescent-shaped.
LYRATE (LYE-rate) - With terminal leaflet much larger than other leaflets.
LYSIGENOUS (LYE-sij-ee-nus) - With cavity in tissue formed by break-down of cells.