Definitions S thru Z

SABULOSE (SAB-yew-lus) - Growing in or pertaining to sandy places.
SACCATE (SAK-ate) - Having the form of a sack or pouch.
SAGITTATE (SAJ-i-tate) - Elongated triangle with the two basal angles prolonged downward; shaped like an arrow.
SAPROPHYTE (SAP-row-fite) - A plant that grows on decaying vegetable matter.
SCABROUS (SCAB-rus) - Rough to the touch; having raised dots, scales or points.
SCALE (scale) - Any of the small but prolific insects of the family Coccidae, which attack orchids (or other plants).
SCALECIDE (SKAL-e-side) - A spray that is known to kill insects of the Coccidae family.
SCANDENT (SKAN-dent) - Climbing, by aerial roots or otherwise.
SCAPE (scape) - A flowering stem, usually leafless, but occasionally furnished with bracts; a peduncle arising at or beneath the surface of the ground. An erect leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground
SCAPOSE (SKAPE-ose) - Bearing or resembling a scape.
SCARIOUS (SKAY-ri-us) - Thin, dry and membranaceous, not green.
SCIOPHYTE (SYE-o-fite) - Plant with optimum development in subdued light.
SCOBICULAR (sko-BIK-u-lar) - In fine grains like sawdust.
SCROTIFORM (SKROH-ti-form) - Pouch-shaped.
SCURFY (SKUR-fi) - Scaly.
SECTILE (SEC-til) - As though cut up into partitions, as the pollen divisions.
SECUND (SEE-kund) Borne on one side of an axis; one sided.
SEEDLING - A plant raised from seed. A young plant that has not flowered.
SEED POD - The fruit or fully ripened pedicellate ovary of the orchid after fertilization.
SEGMENT (SEG-ment) - A portion of the corolla.
SELFING The pollination of a flower by its own pollen, or pollen from another flower on the same plant.
SEMI-APERTUS (se-my-AP-er-tus) - Half open, referring to a flower.
SEMITERETE (se-my-ter-ETE) - Applied to Vanda hybrids produced by crossing of terete-leaved and strap-leaved forms.
SEPAL (SEE-pal) - One of the separate, usually green parts forming the calyx of a flower. In orchids, the three outside divisions that protect the flower.
SEPALINE (SEP-al-een) - Resembling a sepal.
SEPALOID (SEP-al-oid) - Like a sepal.
SERICEOUS (ser-ISH-us) - With the texture of silk.
SERRATE (SER-ate) - Having sharp teeth pointing forward.
SERRATUS (SER-at-us) - A flat margin, notched like a saw.
SERRULATE (SER-oo-late) - Finely serrated; having fine teeth.
SESQUIPEDALIS (ses-KWI Pe-day-lis) - A foot and half long. Very long.
SESSILE (SES-il) - Attached directly to the base; not raised upon a stalk or peduncle; without a supporting stalk. (when applied to a stigma, indicates that the style is absent, the stigma being 'sessile' on the ovary).
SETACEOUS (se-TAY-shus) - Set with or consisting of bristles.
SETIGEROUS also SETIFEROUS (se-TIJ-er-us, se-TIF-er-us) - Bearing bristles.
SETOSE (SEE-tose) - Covered with bristles, bristly.
SETULOSE (SET-oo-lose) - Having small short haris.
SHEATH - A protective leaf-like growth surrounding flower buds on some genera. Normally dries and sloughs off, when inflorescence or leaf matures.
SIGMOID (SIG-moid) - Curved in two directions, like the letter “S”.
SINUATE (SIN-yew-ate) - With a wavy margin, the indentations marked.
SINUS (SYE-nus) - The cleft or recess between two lobes.
SPATHACEOUS (spa-THAY-shus) - Having or resembling a spathe.
SPATHE (SPAY-th) - The large sheathing bract or pair of bracts enclosing the inflorescence.
SPATULATE (SPAT-yew-late) - Gradually dilated upward to a rounded apex; spoon-shaped.
SPECIES (SPEE-sheez) - A kind of plant distinct from other kinds. A group of plants carrying characteristics which distinguishes them from other plants. The second word in a scientific name. It is not capitalized. The word species is both singular and plural.
SPECIMEN PLANT (SPES-i-men) - A specimen plant is an example of cultivation to a high degree.
SPECIOSISSIMUS (speesh-i-os-ISS-I-mus) - Very handsome, uniting elegance of form and brilliance of color.
SPECIOSUS (SPEESH-i-ose-sus) - Handsome in form and color.
SPECTABILIS (spek-TAY-bi-lis, also spek-TAH-bi-lis) - Deserving notice by reason of intrinsic worth.
SPECULUM (spek-U-lum) - shiny square or U-shaped area found on the lip of some orchids.
SPHACELATED (SFAS-e-Iate-ed) - Withering or decayed.
SPHACELATUS (SFAS-ee-LAY-TUS) - Scorched; some part looking as if withered, as the psuedobulbs of Oncidium sphacelatum.
SPHAGNUM (SFAG-num) - A genus of mosses used in vegetative propagation of orchids and in some composts.
SPICATE (SPY-kate) - Having spikes, as a plant; arranged in spikes, as flowers; in the form of a spike, as an inflorescence.
SPICATUS (spy-KAY-tus) - Bearing the flowers on spikes.
SPIKE - Unbranched, elongated indeterminate inflorescence with flowers sessile on the rachis, either close together or scattered. A term sometimes used in place of ‘inflorescence’.
SPILOPTERUS (spy-LOP-ter-us) - Having spotted wings.
SPINE - Sharp outgrowth from leaf of leaf-part or a modification of an entire leaf.
SPINOSE (SPY-nose) - Having spines.
SPINOSUS (SPY-no-sus) - Having spines.
SPORE - A simple reproductive body, usually composed of a single detached cell and containing no embryo.
SPORT - A sudden, spontaneous deviation from a typical form; a mutation.
SPUR - A sac-like tubular projection from a sepal or petal, frequently secreting nectar.
SQUARROSE (SKWAR-ros) - Consisting of scales widely divaricating; having scales, small leaves, or other bodies, spreading widely from the axis on which they are crowded; -- said of a calyx or stem.
STAMEN (STAY-men) - The pollen-bearing anther and supporting filament of a flower.
STAMINATE (STAY-min-nate) - With all functional fertile parts of a flower, male. Capable of fertilizing female organs.
STAMINODE (STAY-min-ode) - A floral unit representing a sterile stamen.
STELE (STEE-lee) - The primary arrangement of a vascular system; an axial cylinder of vascular tissue.
STELIDIA (stel-ID-e-uh) - Column teeth.
STELLATE or STELLATUS (STELL-ate) - Star-shaped; giving the effect of a star.
STIGMA (STIG-ma) - That part of a pistil which receives the pollen. It is often separated from the ovary by a slender style.
STIPE (stipe) - A stalk of slender support; the stalk-like elongation of the receptacle of a flower. The supporting stalk or stemlike structure especially of a pistil or fern frond or supporting a mushroom cap
STIPITATE (STIP-i-tate) - Borne on a stipe.
STIPULE (STIP-yewl) - A lateral part of a leaf borne either near or at the base of a leaf, one on each side, or on the stem free from the leaf but originating from the leaf base.
STOLON (STOH-lun) - A shoot bending to the ground and developing adventitious roots, each section of stem and root on division capable of becoming an individual plant.
STOLONIFEROUS (STOH-lin-if-er-us) - Having stolons; trailing over the soil surface and rooting at the nodes.
STOMA (STOH-ma) - Plural: Stomata. A pore-like structure of the leaf epidermis together with the associated crescent-shaped guard cells, regulating the passage of water-vapor from the plant to the atmosphere, and the gaseous exchange during photosynthetic and respiratory processes.
STOMATIFEROUS (stoh-ma-TIF-er-us) - Bearing stomata.
STRIATE (STRY-ate) - Furrowed, streaked, striped; with the fine longitudinal lines or channels.
STRIATE-NERVED - Striped with parallel longitudinal lines or ridges.
STRIATIONS (stry-AY-shuns) - Parallel grooves like stripes.
STRIDENTICULATE (stry-den-TIK-yew-late) - Slightly toothed; grooves or stripes.
STROBILE (STROH-bile) - An inflorescence with imbricate scales like a cone.
STROBILUS (STROH-bi-lus) - A cone-like reproductive structure.
STYLE - the slender portion of a carpel, or of several fused carpels, between the stigma and the ovary.
SUBACUTE (sub-a-CUTE) - A blunt point. less than acute
SUBCAPITATE (sub- KAP-i-tate) - (less than) being abruptly enlarged and globose at the tip
SUBCORYMBOSE (sub-kor-IM-bose) - Slightly convex cluster.
SUBGLOBOSE (sub-GLOW-bos) - Not quite globose.
SUBORBICULAR (sub-or-BIK-oo-lar) - Almost circular.
SUBRENIFORM (sub-REN-i-form) - Slightly kidney-shaped.
SUBSTANCE - The quality, in evaluating an orchid flower, of firmness and durability.
SUBSTRATE (SUB-streyt) - A stationary surface upon which other things, such as roots, can attach.
SUBTENDED (SUB-ten-did) - Enclosed or embraced in its axil; to occupy an adjacent position to, as a bract subtending a flower.
SUBTRUNCATE (sub-TRUN-kate) - Having the end slightly square or even.
SUBULATE (SOO-bew-late) - Slender, more or less cylindrical and tapering to a point; awl-shaped.
SUCCULENT (suk-YEW-lent) - Adapted to drought tolerance by production of an extensive water absorbing root system, and a modification of aerial parts into fleshy water holding structures with a reduced transpirating surface.
SULCATE (SUL-kate) - Grooved or furrowed, longitudinally.
SUMMER-CLOUD - A coating of lime, white lead or cold water paint applied to greenhouse glass to intercept the sun's rays.
SUPERBIENS (soo-PER-bi-ens) - Becoming grand and stately.
SYMBIOSIS (sim-bi-OSE-is) - The living together of dissimilar organisms with benefit to both; example-the relationship between certain fungi and orchid seed germinating in the wild.
SYMBIOTIC (sim-bi-OT-ik) - Referring to symbiosis.
SYMPODIAL (sim-POH-di-al) - A growth that is continued by several lateral shoots; type of growth made up of successive secondary axis or growths as in Dendrobium. Orchids which grow laterally and produce leafy growths along a rhizome.
SYNSEPALUM (sin-SEP-a-lum) - The ventral part of a cypripedium flower formed by the fusion of the lateral sepals.
SYSTEMICALLY (sis-TEM-i-cal-ly) - Borne within the organism.
TAPETUM (ta-PEE-tum) - Uniseriate layer of cells formed around a pollen-mother cell and its micro-spores, serving as a nutritive tissue for them.
TAXON (TAK-son) - Botanical category relating populations of individuals with certain similarities. Major plant taxa in descending order are division, class, order, family, genus, species.
TAXONOMY (taks-ON-oh-mi) - Classification of plants according to their natural relationships.
TERATOLOGICAL (ter-at-oh-LOJ-i-kal) - Science of abnormal development.
TERETE (ter-EET) - Cylindrical or nearly so; circular in cross-section.
TERMINAL (TUR-me-nal) - Apical; produced at the end. At the apex or far end of something.
TERRESTRIAL (ter-RES-tri-al) - Growing on the ground and supported by soil.
TESSELATE (TESS-a-late) - To form small squares or blocks, to arrange in mosaic pattern; therefore netted, veined in similar pattern.
TESSELATED (TESS-el-lated) - Netted, lined, or veined. Having a checkered or mosaic pattern. Broken into small squares or bits, like floor tiles or broken tree bark.
TETRAPLOID (TET-ra-ploid) - Having four sets of chromosomes.
THALLUS (THAL-lus) - No differentiation into distinct stem, leaves, and roots.
THYRSE (thurs) - A form of mixed inflorescence, having the main axis racemose and the secondary axes cymose.
THYRSIFLORUS (THURS-i-flow-rus) - Having flowers in a thyrse or compact, clustered panicle.
TIBICINUS (ti-BIS-in-us) - Resembling a trumpet.
TOMENTOSE (to-MEN-tose) - Covered with long densely matted hairs.
TOMENTUM (to-MEN-tum) - Long, densely matted hairs.
TOXIN (TOKS-in) - Poison secreted by an organism.
TRANSPIRATION (tran-spi-RAY-shun) - The act or process of exhaling watery vapor from the stomata of plants.
TRAPEZIFORM (tra-PEE-zi-form) - Like a trapezium in form with four non-parallel sides.
TREE-FERN A tropical or sub-tropical fern used as a potting medium for orchids.
TRI (try) - A prefix meaning three; therefore:
Tridenticulate - three points, a trident.
Trigeneric - a plant resulting from crosses between three genera.
Trilobulate - three lobed.
TRIDENTICULATE - having 3 prongs.
TRILAMELATE (tri-LAM-el-late) - Three lipped.
TRIFIDUS (try-FI-dus) - Three cleft.
TRIPLOID (TRIP-laid) - Having three sets of chromosomes, often infertile.
TRIQUETROUS (try-KWEE-trus) - Having three acute angles; triangular.
TRULLA (TROO-la) - Trowel-shaped.
TRULLIFERUS (troo-LIF-er-us) - Trowel-bearing.
TRULLIFORM (TROO-li-form) - Trowel-shaped.
TRUNCATE (TRUN-kate) - Having the end square or even as if cut off.
TRUNCATUS (TRUN-ka-tus) - Terminating abruptly.
TUBER (TOO-ber) - Thickened underground branch of stem.
TUBERCLES (TOO-ber-k'ls) - A tuberous root which bears adventitious buds.
UBIQUITUS (yew-BIK-wi-tus) - Growing in all types of habitat.
UMBEL (UM-bel) - Inflorescence with pedicellate flowers arising from a common point of the floral axis.
UMBELLATE (UM-bell-ate) - Arranged in an umbel or resembling an umbel.
UMBELLATUS (UM-bell-AY-tus) - Having flowers in an umbel.
UNCINATE (un-sin-ate) - Bearing short hook-like process at the apex.
UNDULATE (UN-du-late) - With wavy margin or surface.
UNDULATUS (UN-doo-late-us) - Wavy.
UNGUICULATE (un-GWIK-ya-lit) - Tapering below into a claw or stalk-like base.
UNICORNIS (YEWN-i-korn-is) - One-horned.
UNIFLORUS (yew-ni-FLOR-ris) - One-flowered, or having single-flowered peduncles.
UNIFOLIATE (YEW-ni-FOH-li-ate) - Having only one leaf.
UNISEXUAL (YEW-ni-sek-shu-al) - Of one sex, as a flower in which only one sex is present or functional.
URCEOLATE (UR-si-a-late) - Shaped like a pitcher (urn); swelling out like the body of a pitcher and contracted at the orifice, as a corolla.
VARIETAL (va-RYE-et-al) - Pertaining to or having the character of a variety or sub-species.
VARIETY (va-RYE-a-ti) - A plant having minor characteristics or variations which separate it from the type species.
VEIN (vane) - Strand of conducting tissue (vascular bundle) forming an interconnectting system of water and solute exchange throughout the leaf and continuous with the stem.
VELAMEN (ve-LAY-min) - The thick spongy epidermis covering the aerial roots of epiphytic orchids which helps prevent water loss and aids in absorption.
VELAMENTOUS (vel-a-MEN-tus) - Resembling or having a velamen.
VELATED (VEE-lay-ted) - Veiled.
VELATUS (See VELATED)
VELUTINUS (ve-LOO-ti-nus) - Covered with a fine and dense silky pubescence; velvety, soft.
VENTRAL (VEN-tral) - Of or designating the lower or inner surface, as of a petal, etc.
VENTRICOSE (VEN-tra-kose) - Swelling out, especially on one side or unequally; protuberant; bellied, inflated.
VENTRICOSUS (See VENTRICOSE)
VERNAL (VUR-nal) - Appearing in the spring.
VERNATION (ver-NAY-shun) - The disposition of the foliage leaves within the bud.
VERNICOSE (VER-ni-kose) - Shiny as though varnished.
VERRUCOSE (VER-oo-kose) - Covered with wart-like elevations; warted.
VERRUCOSUS (See VERRUCOSE)
VERTICIL (VER-ti-sil) - A circle of foliar organs, flowers or inflorescences about the same point on the axis; a whorl.
VERTICILLATE (ver-TIS-il-late) - Arranged in a transverse whorl like the spokes of a wheel.
VESICLE (VES-i-kal) - A small bladder or air cavity.
VESTIGIAL (ves-TIj-i-al) - Rudimentary; imperfectly developed or under developed.
VEXILLARIUS (veks-i-LAR-i-us) - Showy, like a banner, from 'vexillum', the flag or standard carried by ancient Roman soldiers.
VIABILITY (vye-a-BIL-i-ti) - The possibility of growth.
VIABLE (VYE-a-b'l) - Capable of development; as germination of seed.
VILLOSUS (vil-OH-sus) - Shaggy; clothed with long soft hair.
VILLOUS (VIL-us) - Pubescent with soft and not matted hair.
VIRENS (VYE-renz) - Fresh looking; lively green.
VIRESCENS (vye-RES-enz) - State of being green through development of chloroplasts in organs normally white or colored; having a tendency to turn green.
VIRGATE (VUR-gate) - Long straight and slender; having form of a rod; wand-shaped.
VIRGATUS (vur-GAH-tus) - Twiggy.
VIRUS (VYE-rus) - A submicroscopic organic particle associated with disease of plants, shown to retain capacity for re-infection of plant tissue, transmissible by physical contact, by grafting, through soil and by insect vector, several forms of which affect certain kinds of orchids.
VISCID (VIS-id) - Sticky; glutinous; having the properties of glue, adhesive, gluey, glutinous, gummy, mucilaginous, pasty, sticky, viscous.
VISICIDIUM (VIS-sid-ee-um) - sticky substance in flowers that allows pollen to attach to or be removed from the pollinating insect.
VIVIPARY (vi-VIP-a-ri) - Germination of seed before abscission of its fruit.
VITTATE (vit-TATE) - Striped longitudinally.
VITTATUS (vit-TAY-tus) - Banded; marked with longitudinal stripes.
VITELLIN (vi-TEL-in) - Any of several related substances in the seeds of plants.
VULCANICUS (vul-KAN-i-kus) - Growing on the sides of a volcano.
WARM HOUSE - A growing house for tropical plants usually kept above 60°F.
WHORL (wurl) - Radical group of leaves or flowers at a node, or the sterile and fertile parts of a flower arising from receptacle in cyclic manner.
WILDING - Any plant that grows wild or lives in a state of nature; not tame, domesticated, or cultivated.
WING - Thin, dry or membranous expansion of an organ or part.
WOUND HORMONE - A specific growth substance released from injured cells of a wounded tissue which stimulates activity of un-injured cells to initiate new growth.
XANTHIN (ZAN-thin) - A yellow insoluble coloring matter extracted from yellow flowers.
XANTHOPHYLL (zan-thow-FILL) - A yellow crystalline pigment related to carotene, found in leaves most of the time, but only revealed when chlorophyll is absent. The yellow in fall leaves becomes evident when chlorophyll is destroyed by the environmental changes (changes in light intensity or cooler temperatures).
XAXIM (ZAKS-im) - Brazilian term for tree fern and for fiber from it.
XENOGAMY (zee-NOG-a-mi) - Cross fertilization.
XERIC (ZIR-ik) - Adapted to arid conditions.
XEROPHYTE (ZIR-a-fite) - A plant adapted for growth under dry conditions.
XIPHIFOLIUS (zi-fi-FOH-li-us) - Iris leaved, sword-like.
XYLEM (ZYE-leem) - The water and mineral solute conducting, and supporting tissue system of vascular plants. A tissue that conveys water from the roots up the stem and furnishes support to the plant.
ZYGOMORPHIC (ZYE-go-MOR-fik) - Flowers which are divisible into equal halves in one plane only. Having only one vertical plane of symmetry (nearly all orchids).
ZYGOTE (ZYE-goat) - Any spore formed by the conjunction of two gametes; loosely a zygospore.