aerial
root Any root produced above the growing medium.
anther
The part of the stamen containing the pollen; the end of the
column.
backbulb An old pseudobulb behind the part of a sympodial
orchid that is actively growing. Although there may be no leaves the presence
of undamaged "eyes" is a sign that growth is possible.
bifoliate
Having two leaves.
cane
An elongated psuedobulb, usually used when describing Dendrobiums.
crock
Small pieces of broken earthenware or flower pots, placed in the
bottom of a pot when repotting to aid in drainage.
cultivar An individual plant and its vegetative
propagations in cultivation; a horticultural variety.
epiphyte,
epiphytic A plant which naturally grows upon another plant but does
not derive any nourishment from it. Many of the orchids in cultivation are
epiphytic.
eye
The bud of a sympodial orchid that will eventually develop into a new
lead.
foliar spray Many minor nutrients and trace elements
beneficial to growth are best absorbed through the stomata of an orchids leaves
when mixed with water and sprayed on the plant.
genus
(pl. genera) A natural grouping of closely related species.
habitat
The type of place in which a plant normally grows.
hybrid The offspring of a cross between species or
hybrids.
inflorescence The flowering portion of a plant.
intergeneric hybrid A hybrid between members of two or
more genera.
keiki
A Hawaiian word referring to a baby plant produced asexually by an
orchid plant, usually used when referring to Dendrobiums or Vandaceous orchids.
lead
An immature vegetative growth on a sympodial orchid that will develop
into flower-producing structure.
lip
A modified petal of the orchid flower specialized to aid in pollination
and different than the other petals.
lithophyte An orchid that grows on rocks
medium
The material in which an orchid is container-grown, it may be
organic such as fir bark or inorganic such as lava rock.
mericlone
A plant derived from tissue culture that is identical to its
parent.
monopodial Orchids which grow upward from a single stem
producing leaves and flowers along that stem.
node
A joint on a stem or pseudobulb from which a leaf or growth
originates.
panicle
An inflorescence with a main stem and branches, the flowers on the
lower branches open earlier than the upper ones.
photosynthesis The process a plant uses to produce
carbohydrates and sugar from water and carbon dioxide in the air using
chlorophyl-containing cells exposed to light.
pseudobulb A thickened portion of the stem of many
orchids functioning as a water and food storage device.
raceme
An unbranched inflorescence of stalked flowers.
rhizome
A root-bearing stem of sympodial orchids that progressively sends
up leafy shoots.
scape
An unbranched inflorescence with one flower.
sheath
A modified leaf that encloses an emerging inflorescence or leaf.
species
A kind of plant that is distinct from other plants.
spike
An unbranched inflorescence of unstalked flowers.
stolon A branch that grows horizontally above the medium
and produces roots and shoots at the nodes.
stomata The breathing pores on the surface of a plant's
leaves
sympodial Orchids which grow laterally and produce leafy
growths along a rhizome
terrestrial Growing on the ground and supported by soil.
unifoliate Having one leaf.
velamen
The thick sponge-like covering of the roots of epiphytic orchids
which helps prevent water loss and aids in absorption.
virus
A type of infectious agent, much smaller than common
microorganisms, several forms of which affect certain kinds of orchids.
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