Encyclopedian Dictionary: 2013

Reniform

Pronunciation key

( ren′i-fôrm′ )
( rē′ni-fôrm′ )

Reniform leaf

ren•i•form

adj.

[Mod. L. reniformis; see RENI- & -FORM].

Shaped like a kidney.

Kidney-shaped leaf

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Orbicular

Pronunciation key

( ôr-bik′yoo-lẽr )

or•bic•u•lar

Orbicular leaf

adj.

[ME. orbiculer; LL. orbicularis < orbiculus. dim of orbis, a circle].

Having the shape of an orb; spherical or circular.
In botany, flat and round such as some types of leaves.

Orbicular leaf

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Oblong

Pronunciation key

( ob′lôŋ )

ob•long

Oblong leaf

adj.

[ME. oblonge; L. oblongus, rather long; ob (see OB) + longus, long].

Longer than broad; elongated; specifically rectangular and longer in one direction than the other or, elliptical.

An oblong figure; anything oblong in form.

Abbreviated as obl.

Oblong leaf

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Obcordate

Pronunciation key

( ob′kôr′dāt )

ob•cor•date

Obcordate leaf

adj.

[ob- + cordate].

In botany, heart-shaped and joined to the stem at the apex: said of certain leaves.

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Falcate

Pronunciation key

( fal′kāt )

fal•cate

Falcate Leaf

adj.

[L. < falcatus < falx, falcis, a sickle].

sickle-shaped; curved; hooked: as a falcate leaf.

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Elliptic or Elliptical

Pronunciation key

( i-lip′ti-kʼl )
( ə-lip′ti-kʼl )

el•lip•tic

(i-lip′tik) (ə-lip′tik)

adj.

elliptical.

el•lip•ti•cal

Elliptical

adj.

[Gr. eilleiptikos (see ELLIPSE); + -al].

Having shape of an ellipse as some forms of leaves.
Characterized by an ellipsis; with a word or words omitted.

Elliptic Leaf

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Cordate

Pronunciation key

( kôr′dāt )

cor•date

Cordate Leaf

adj.

[L. cordatus < cor, cordis, heart].

heart-shaped, as with some leaves.

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Acute

Pronunciation key

( ə-kūt′ )

a•cute

Acute Leaf Tip

adj.

[L. < acutus pp. of acuere, to sharpen; cf. ACUITY].

having a sharp point.
keen or of quick-mindedness; shrewd.
sensitive to impression.
sharp pain.
severe jealousy.
severe but of a brief duration; not chronic: said of some diseases.
crucial; critical.
high pitch; shrill.
in geometry, measuring below a 90° angle.

Syn. - acute suggests severe intensification of an event or condition that sharply approaches a climax (an acute shortage). Critical is applied during a turning point which will decisely dictate an outcome (a critical battle in the war). Crucial comes into contrast with critical where a trial determines a line of action versus a decisive turning point involved (a crucial debate on domestic policy). See SHARP.

Acute Leaf Tip

References and Further Reading

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Tips

Acicular

Pronunciation key

( ə-sik′yoo-lẽr )

acicular

Acicular

adj.

[L. dim acus a pin, needle].

like an acicula.
bristly, spiny, needlelike.

References

Stipule

Pronunciation key

( stip′ūl )

stip•ule

Stipulate

[Fr.; Mod. L. stipula L. stipula].

A stalk, straw, dim of stipes, trunk.
One of two small leaflike parts at the base of some leafstalks or leaf petioles.

References and Further Reading

Zoology Quest: Stipulate

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Arrangement and Attachment

Sheathing

Pronunciation key

( shēth′iŋ )

sheath•ing

Sheathing

[ME. schethe AS. sceath; akin to G. scheide; IE. base * sqēi-, to cut split, divide; the earliest form of sheath was probably a stick].

Act of placing something in or, encasing with a sheath.
Something that sheathes or encases. A covering, casing, specifically, the inner covering of boards or waterproof material on the roof or outside wall of a frame house. Also the protective covering of a ship's bottom or hull. The material used for either of these.

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Arrangement and Attachment

Amplexicaul

Pronunciation key

( am-plek′si-kôl′ )

am•plex•i•caul

Ampexicaul

adj.

[L. amplexus pp. of amplectari, to twine around + caulis stem].

in botany, clasping or encircling a stem, as the base of some leaves.

Amplexicaul Leaf
Corn Stalk

References

Zoology Quest: Leaf Arrangement and Attachment Chart

Spiny

Pronunciation key

( spīn′i )

spin•y

adj.

Spiny

[SPINIER (-i-ẽr), SPINIEST (-i-ist)]

[< WORD < ORIGIN].

covered with spines. Thorny, or prickly.
filled with obstacles; troublesome; thorny.
spine-shaped.

References

Zoology Quest: Leaf Margins Chart

Sinuate

Pronunciation key

( sin′ū-it )

sin•u•ate

[also, and for v. always, sin′ūāt′]

adj.

Sinuate

[L. sinuatus pp. of sinuare, to bend < sinus, a bend].

bending or winding in and out; wavy; sinous.
in botany, having a wavy margin margin, as some leaves.
v.i. [SINUATED (-id), SINUATING] to bend or wind in and out; be sinuous or wavy.

References

Zoology Quest: Leaf Margins Chart

Serrulate

Pronunciation key

( ser′oo-lāt′ )
( ser′yoo-lit )

ser•ru•late

adj.

Serrulate

[< L. serrula, dim. of serra, a saw; + ate].

having small, fine teeth or notches along the edge; finely serrate.

References

Zoology Quest: Leaf Margins Chart

Incised

Pronunciation key

( in-sīzd′ )

in•cised

adj.

Incised

[pp. of incise].

cut into.
engraved or carved.
having edges deeply notched as in certain types of leaves.

References

Zoology Quest: Leaf Margin Chart

Ciliate

Pronunciation key

( sil′i-it )
( sil′i-āt′ )

cil•i•ate

adj.

Ciliate

in botany and zoology, organisms which possess cilia.

any of a class of microscopic protozoans characterized by the presence of cilia on the body.

References

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Margins

Truncate

Pronunciation key

( truŋ′kāt )

trun•cate

Truncate leaf

v.t.

[TRUNCATED (-id), TRUNCATING]

[L. truncatus, pp. of truncare, to cut off < truncus, a stem, trunk].

to cut off a part of; shorten by cutting; lop off.

Truncate leaf tip

adj.

truncated.
in botany and zoology, having a square or broad end.

References and Further Reading

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Tips

Mucronate

Pronunciation key

( mū′krə-nit )
( mū′krə-nāt )

Mucronate leaf

mu•cro•nate

adj.

[L. mucronatus].

ending in a mucro or sharp point.

Mucronate leaf tip

References

Zoology Quest: Leaf Tip Type Chart

Apiculate

Pronunciation key

( ə-pik′yoo-lit )
( ə-pik′yoo-lāt′ )

a•pic•u•late

adj.

Apiculate leaf

[LL. apiculatus, apiculus dim. of L. apex, point].

in botany, ending abruptly in a small point as in some leaves.

References

Zoology Quest: Leaf Tip Type Chart

Acuminate

Pronunciation key

( ə-kū′mi-nit )

a•cu•mi•nate

Acuminate leaf

adj.

[L. acuminatus pp. of acuminare, to sharpen].

pointed; tapering to a point such as in an acuminate leaf.

v.t. (ə-kū′mi-nāt′), [ACUMINATED (-id), ACUMENATING] to sharpen.

Acuminate leaf tip

References and Further Reading

Zoology Quest: Leaf Tip Type Chart

Geaster triplex ( Geastraceae ) Triplex Earthstar

Geaster triplex

Based on the classification system listed (here) for Geaster triplex, the closest classification listed as valid on itis.gov is Geastraceae.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Fungi – champignons, Fungo, fungi
Division	Basidiomycota – basidio's, basidiomycetes, club fungi
Class	Basidiomycetes
Order	Lycoperdales
Family	Geastraceae
Geastraceae, Taxonomic Serial No.: 623892

References and Further Reading

Zoology Quest: Earthstar ( Basidiomycetes )

Zoology Quest: Basidiomycetes

Batrachospermum moniliforme

Batrachospermum moniliforme

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Batrachospermum moniliforme
Kingdom	Plantae – Vegetal, plants
Subkingdom	Biliphyta
Division	Rhodophyta – red algae
Subdivision	Rhodophytina
Class	Florideophyceae
Order	Batrachospermales
Family	Batrachospermaceae
Genus	Batrachospermum A. W. Roth, 1797
Species	Batrachospermum moniliforme
Batrachospermum moniliforme, Taxonomic Serial No.: 11675

References

Merismopedia elegans

Merismopedia elegans

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Chroococcales
Family	Chroococcaceae
Genus	Merismopedia Meyen, 1839
Species	Merismopedia elegans A. Br. In Kutz, 1849
Merismopedia elegans, A. Br. In Kutz, 1849, Taxonomic Serial No.: 732

References

Oscillatoria limosa

Oscillatoria limosa

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Nostocales
Family	Oscillatoriaceae
Genus	Oscillatoria Vaucher Ex Gomont, 1893
Species	Oscillatoria limosa (Roth) C. Agardh
Oscillatoria limosa, (Roth) C. Agardh, Taxonomic Serial No.: 976

References

Chroococcus

Chroococcus

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Chroococcales
Family	Chroococcaceae
Genus	Chroococcus Nageli, 1849
Chroococcus, Nageli, 1849, Taxonomic Serial No.: 654

References

Mermaid's Hair ( Lyngbya majuscula )

Mermaid's Hair

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Mermaid's Hair ( Lyngbya majuscula )
Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Nostocales
Family	Oscillatoriaceae
Genus	Lyngbya Agardh Ex Gomont, 1892
Species	Lyngbya majuscula
Lyngbya majuscula, Taxonomic Serial No.: 877

References

Blue Green Algae ( Cyanophycota )

Mermaid's Hair ( Lyngbya majuscula )
Common in shallow salt water and often covering rocks.

Cyanophycota

Species in this group are distributed widely in both salt and freshwater forms. Most species are covered by a gelatinous sheath which enables them to live in close vicinity to hot springs, in polluted water or on moist tile and soil.

During the summer some species increase in abundance they form a pond scum. Some varieties poison water supplies.

Blue-green algae are the simplest form of all algae. They have a poorly defined nucleus and pigmentation are unconfined, spreading over the cells. Reproduction is by simple cell division. Some of the blue-green algae occur in the form of a single cell, some in filaments while others in gelantinous masses.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Chroococcus
Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Chroococcales
Family	Chroococcaceae
Genus	Chroococcus Nageli, 1849
Chroococcus, Nageli, 1849, Taxonomic Serial No.: 654

Chroococcus has distinctive gelatinous sheaths.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Merismopedia elegans
Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Chroococcales
Family	Chroococcaceae
Genus	Merismopedia Meyen, 1839
Species	Merismopedia elegans A. Br. In Kutz, 1849
Merismopedia elegans, A. Br. In Kutz, 1849, Taxonomic Serial No.: 732

Merismopedia is connected in flat colonies.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Oscillatoria limosa
Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Nostocales
Family	Oscillatoriaceae
Genus	Oscillatoria Vaucher Ex Gomont, 1893
Species	Oscillatoria limosa (Roth) C. Agardh
Oscillatoria limosa, (Roth) C. Agardh, Taxonomic Serial No.: 976

Oscillatoria are arranged in a filament resembling a stack of wafers.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Nostoc pruniforme
Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Nostocales
Family	Nostocaceae
Genus	Nostoc Vaucher, 1888, Ex Bornet and Flahaul
Species	Nostoc pruniforme C. Agardh
Nostoc pruniforme, C. Agardh, Taxonomic Serial No.: 1168

Nostoc has strings of beadlike cells.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Gloeotrichia echinulata, which is filamentous may be free-floating or attached, forming colonies.
Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Class	Cyanophyceae
Order	Nostocales
Family	Rivulariaceae
Genus	Gloeotrichia Jg. Agardh Ex Bornet and Flah., 1886
Species	Gloeotrichia echinulata (J. Smith) P. Richter
Gloeotrichia echinulata, (J. Smith) P. Richter, Taxonomic Serial No.: 1300

In abundance, Gloetrichia can be an irritant to the skin of swimmers.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Monera – monerans
Phylum	Cyanophycota – blue-green algae, cyanophytes
Direct Children:
Genus	Prochlorococcus Chisholm et. al., 2001
Class	Cyanophyceae
Cyanophycota, Taxonomic Serial No.: 601

References

Zygote

Pronunciation key

( zī′gōt )
( zi′gōt )

zy•gote

[< Gr. zygōtos yoked < zygon a yoke].

A cell formed by the union of two gametes.

Some cells develop large eggs while other forms develop sperm that swim to an egg and fertilize it, forming a zygote. Such an example is the species Oedogonium (above).

References

Oedogonium

Oedogonium

Some cells develop large eggs while other forms develop sperm that swim to an egg and fertilize it, forming a zygote. Such an example is the species Oedogonium (above).

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae – Vegetal, plants
Subkingdom	Viridaeplantae – green plants
Infrakingdom	Chlorophyta – green algae
Division	Chlorophyta – green algae
Subdivision	Chlorophytina
Class	Chlorophyceae
Order	Oedogoniales
Family	Oedogoniaceae
Genus	Oedogonium Hirn, 1900
Oedogonium, Hirn, 1900, Taxonomic Serial No.: 8959

References

Ulothrix

Ulothrix

The parent cell becomes modified, ruptures and zoospores are released as in the species Ulothrix, (above).

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae – Vegetal, plants
Subkingdom	Viridaeplantae – green plants
Infrakingdom	Chlorophyta – green algae
Division	Chlorophyta – green algae
Subdivision	Chlorophytina
Class	Ulvophyceae
Order	Ulotrichales
Family	Ulotrichaceae
Genus	Ulothrix Kuetzing, 1836
Ulothrix, Kuetzing, 1836, Taxonomic Serial No.: 6417

References

Phylum

Pronunciation key

( fī′ləm )

phy•lum

n. pl.

•la (-lə)

[<NL < Gk. phylon a race, tribe < phyein produce, ]

Biology. Great division of life forms, i.e., plants, animals, et cetera which rank next, below the major kingdom and above a class of which the members are believed to have a common ancestor.
Any of the broad, basic divisions of plant, animal, et cetera classifications.
Any of the broad, basic divisions of the linguistic families.

References

ewe

Pronunciation key

( ū )

ewe

[ME. ewe also yowe; AS. eowu fem. of eow sheep; akin to G. au- in aulamm ewe lamb; IE.. base *owi-s, sheep, as also in L. ovis].

The female of sheep.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Animalia – Animal, animals
Phylum	Chordata – chordates
Subphylum	Vertebrata – vertebrates
Class	Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758 – mammals
Subclass	Theria Parker and Haswell, 1897
Infraclass	Eutheria Gill, 1872
Order	Artiodactyla Owen, 1848 – artiodactyls, cloven-hoofed ungulates, even-toed ungulates
Family	Bovidae Gray, 1821 – antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, bovids
Subfamily	Caprinae Gray, 1821
Genus	Ovis Linnaeus, 1758 – sheep
Ovis, Linnaeus, 1758 Taxonomic Serial No.: 180709

References

Ewes, Sheepy Hollow Farm

estuary

Pronunciation key

( es′ch-er′i )

es•tu•ar•y

n. [pl. ESTUARIES (-iz)]

[L. aestuarium < aestus the tide].

An arm or inlet of the ocean.
A wide mouth of a river where the tide meets the current.

Abbreviated as est.

References

Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP 2005): Watershed-Estuary-Species Nutrient Susceptibility

élan vital

Pronunciation key

( ā′län′ vē′tl′ )

é•lan vi•tal

[Fr. lit., vital force].

According to Bergsonian philosophy, it is the original life force, a creative linking principal in the evolution of all organisms.

References

Ascomycetes

Ascomycetes

This classification has since been invalidated. The current classification is Ascomycota, Taxonomic Serial No.: 610624

"Terrestrial and aquatic fungi with the hyphae septate but the septa perforated; complete septa cut off the reproductive bodies, such as spores or gametangia. Chitin is predominant in the cell walls. Sexual reproduction involves the formation of a characteristic cell, the ascus, in which meiosis takes place and within which spores are formed. The hyphae in many ascomycetes are packed together into complex "fruiting bodies" known as ascocarps. Yeasts are unicellular ascomycetes that reproduce asexually by budding. There are about 30,000 species."
Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

References

Zygomycetes

Zygomycetes

"Terrestrial fungi with the hyphae septate only during the formation of reproductive bodies; chitin predominant in the cell walls. The class includes several hundred species."
Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

References

Oomycetes

Oomycetes

"Mostly aquatic fungi with motile cells characteristic of certain stages of the life cycle, their cell walls are composed of glucose polymers including cellulose. There are several hundred species."
Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

References

Protostelidomycetes

Protostelidomycetes

"In this recently discovered group, the amoebas may remain separate or mass, but each one eventually differentiates into a simple stalked sporangium with one or two spores at its apex. Five genera and more than a dozen species."
Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

References

Acrasiomycetes

Acrasiomycetes

"Cellular slime molds. Slime molds in which there are separate amoebas which eventually swarm together to form a mass but retain their identity within this mass, which eventually differentiates into a compound sporangium. Seven genera and about 26 species."
Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Fungi – fungi
Division	Myxomycota – slime molds
Class	Acrasiomycetes – cellular slime molds
Direct Children:
Order	Acrasiales

References

Acrasiomycetes, Taxonomic Serial No.: 13763

Myxomycetes

Myxomycetes

"The plasmodial slime molds. Slime molds with multinucleate plasmodium which creeps along as a mass and eventually differentiates into sporangia, each of which is multinucleate and eventually gives rise to many spores. About 450 species."
Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Fungi – fungi
Division	Myxomycota – slime molds
Class	Myxomycetes – acellular slime molds, plasmoidial slime molds, true slime molds
Direct Children:
Subclass	Endosporeae
Subclass	Exosporeae

References

Myxomycetes, Taxonomic Serial No.: 13771

Gymnomycota

Gymnomycota

"The slime molds. Heterotrophic amoeboid organisms that mostly lack a cell wall but form sporangia at some stage in their life cycle. Predominant mode of nutrition is by ingestion. There are three orders

Class Myxomycetes

Class Acrasiomycetes

Class Protostelidomycetes

Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971