Glossary of plant morphology

Plant habit refers to the overall shape of a plant, and it describes a number of components such as stem length and development, branching pattern, and texture.

There is also an alphabetical list: Glossary of botanical terms.

Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary of leaf morphology.

Botanists and other biologists who study plant morphology use a number of different terms to classify and identify plant organs and parts that can be observed using no more than a handheld magnifying lens.

Many of these terms date back to the earliest herbalists and botanists, including Theophrastus.

* List of plant morphology terms

The underground part develops roots that seek water and nourishment from the soil, while the upper component, or shoot, grows toward the light and develops a plant stem, leaves and specialised reproductive structures (sporangia).

Where leaves are basal, and lie on the ground, they are referred to as prostrate.

If the perianth is not differentiated into sepals and petals, they are collectively known as tepals.

Botanists and other biologists who study plant morphology use a number of different terms to classify and identify plant organs and parts that can be observed using no more than a handheld magnifying lens.

This page provides help in understanding the numerous other pages describing plants by their various taxa.

In contrast, this page deals with botanical terms in a systematic manner, with some illustrations, and organized by plant anatomy and function in plant physiology.

In contrast, this page deals with botanical terms in a systematic manner, with some illustrations, and organized by plant anatomy and function in plant physiology.

In contrast, this page deals with botanical terms in a systematic manner, with some illustrations, and organized by plant anatomy and function in plant physiology.

This glossary primarily includes terms that deal with vascular plants (ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms), particularly flowering plants (angiosperms).

This glossary primarily includes terms that deal with vascular plants (ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms), particularly flowering plants (angiosperms).

This glossary primarily includes terms that deal with vascular plants (ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms), particularly flowering plants (angiosperms).

Non-vascular plants (bryophytes), with their different evolutionary background, tend to have separate terminology.

Although plant morphology (the external form) is integrated with plant anatomy (the internal form), the former became the basis of the taxonomic description of plants that exists today, due to the few tools required to observe.

Many of these terms date back to the earliest herbalists and botanists, including Theophrastus.

Many of these terms date back to the earliest herbalists and botanists, including Theophrastus.

Thus, they usually have Greek or Latin roots.

Thus, they usually have Greek or Latin roots.