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Australian Biological Resources Study

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Flora of Australia
GLOSSARY

Compiled by A.McCusker


INDEX

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J-K | L | M | N | O | P-Q | R | S | T | U | V | W-Z | Back to Glossaries

G

gamete: a cell or nucleus that fuses with another, of opposite sex, in sexual reproduction.

gametophyte: a plant, or phase of a plant's life cycle, that bears gametes.

gamopetalous: see sympetalous.

gamophyllous: having the leaves or perianth segments united by their margins, at least at the base.

gamosepalous: having the sepals united by their margins, at least at the base.

gemma: a bud or bud-like organ capable of reproducing the plant. pl. gemmae.

geniculate: bent abruptly like a knee joint.

genotype: the total complement of hereditary factors (genes) acquired by an organism from its parents and available for transmission to its offspring. cf. phenotype.

genus: a group of species believed to be related phylogenetically and usually clearly separable from other such groups, or a single species without close relatives; the major taxonomic rank between species and family. pl. genera.

geophyte: a plant whose perennating buds are buried in the soil.

gibbous: usually of a calyx or corolla, with a large hump or pouch-like swelling.

glabrate: glabrous, but obviously having previously had an indumentum.

glabrescent: becoming glabrous.

glabrous: without hairs.

gland: a structure, within or on the surface of a plant, with a secretory function.

glandular: bearing glands; functioning as a gland. > image <

glaucous: blue-green in colour, with a whitish bloom (as in the juvenile leaves of many Eucalyptus species).

globose: nearly spherical.

glochid: a barbed hair or bristle.

glomerule: a small compact cluster. adj. glomerulate. > image <

glumaceous: glume-like, tending to be chaffy or membranous in texture.

glume: a bract in the inflorescence of a grass, sedge or similar plant.

grain: a fruit characteristic of grasses (= caryopsis); pollen grain: a microspore of a seed plant, or the partially developed gametophyte formed from it.

granulate: of a surface, granular.

guard cells: the two cells that open and close the stomata to allow gas exchange.

gymnosperm: a seed-bearing plant with the ovules borne on the surface of a sporophyll. cf. angiosperm.

gynobasic: of a style, arising near the base of the gynoecium, e.g. between the lobes of the ovary. > image <

gynodioecious: having bisexual flowers and female flowers on separate plants. cf. gynomonoecious.

gynoecium: the carpels of a flower collectively.

gynomonoecious: having bisexual and female flowers on the same plant cf. gynodioecious.

gynophore: a stalk bearing the gynoecium above the level of insertion of the other floral parts.

gynostegial corona: in Asclepiadaceae, collective term for the staminal and interstaminal coronas, both of which are associated with the gynostegium. See staminal corona, interstaminal corona.

gynostegium: in Asclepiadaceae, a structure formed by the fusion of the stamens. cf. column.

gynostemium: in Orchidaceae, a structure formed by the fusion of the androecium and the gynoecium. cf. column.

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