| Alternate Leaves spaced singly along a stem, one at each node.* Go Back |
 |
| Axil The angle created between two structures on a plant, such as the notch formed between the base of a leaf and the stem. Go Back |
 |
| Blade The expanded portion of a leaf, in contrast to the leaf stalk.* Go Back |
 |
| Bracts Small leaves that are located below a flower or a flower stalk. Go Back |
 |
| Clone A form of asexual reproduction such as budding, fragmentation, and tubers that produces a genetically identical plant.Go Back | |
| Divided A plant structure that is cut into distinct parts; used to describe leaves. Go Back |
 |
| Emergent Plants have leaves that extend above the water surface, usually found in shallow water.* Go Back |
See Littoral Zone |
| Feather Divided A compound leaf with three or more pairs of leaflets arranged in two opposite rows along a common stalk. See pinnate. Go Back |
 |
| Floating-leaf Describes plants that produce leaves that typically float on the surface.Go Back |
See Littoral Zone |
| Fork divided Leaf or leaflet that is divided into two equal parts. Go Back |
 |
Fruit The seed bearing portion of a plant. Go Back
| |
| Littoral Zone The near shore shallow water zone of a lake, where light reaches the bottom; where aquatic plants grow. Go Back |
 |
| Margin The edge of a leaf. Go Back | |
| Mid-rib The central vein of a leaf that runs from the tip to the base of the leaf. Go Back |
 |
| Node The point on a stem from which a leaf or branch grows. Go Back |
 |
| Nut or Nutlet Dry fruit having a hard shell which usually contains only one seed. Go Back |
| Opposite Leaves are arranged on the stem in pairs, directly across from one another.* Go Back |
 |
| Petiole A leaf stalk. Go Back |
 |
| Pinnate A compound leaf with three or more pairs of leaflets arranged in two opposite rows along a common stalk. See Feather-like Divided. Go Back |
 |
| Rhizome A creeping underground stem.* Go Back |
 |
| Rosette An arrangement of leaves in a radiating pattern at the base of the plant.* Go Back |
 |
| Serrate A sharply toothed leaf margin. Serrations are conspicuous on some species; on other species they may only be visible with magnification.* Go Back |
 |
| Sheath A portion of the leaf that wraps around the stem of the plant. Go Back |
 |
| Spike Flowers spaced closely on a single stalk.* Go Back |
 |
| Stigma The pollen receiving tip of a flower's pistil* Go Back | |
| Stipule An appendage at the base of a leaf stalk. Go Back |
 |
| Stolon A stem that creeps along the surface of the sediment or ground.* Go Back |
 |
| Sub-Opposite Leaves almost opposite each other on the stem, but not precisely opposite. |
 |
| Submersed Describes plants that have most of their leaves growing underwater. Submersed plants may also produce floating leaves or emergent flowering stalks. Go Back |
See Littoral Zone |
| Tuber A bulb-like structure produced along the rhizomes. Tubers provide food storage and facilitate asexual reproduction. Go Back |
 |
| Turion A compacted vegetative bud produced along the stem that can overwinter and form a new plant. Also known as winter buds. Go Back |
 |
| Winter bud See Turion. Go Back | |
| Whorled An arrangement of three or more leaves, flowers or bracts radiating from a central point on a stem. Go Back |
 |
*From Through the Looking Glass
A Field Guide to Aquatic Plants By Susan Borman, Robert Korth, & Jo Temte. Available online at: www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/publications/fieldguide/ |
