Glossary - Principles of Horticulture - page 276

calyx collective name for all the sepals

capillarity the movement of water against gravity within thin tubes

carnivore an organism that feeds on animal tissue

carpel the female reproductive unit made up of a stigma, style and ovary. Individual

carpels are often fused together

centre of origin a geographical area where plant diversity is high

clay soil particle less than 0.002mm in diameter

clay soil soil with more than 35% clay particles

climax community the final community in the successional sequence

community a group of populations in a given area or habitat

compatible pollen pollen which germinates and grows enabling delivery of male gametes

companion planting an association of plant species that derives benefit of some kind from each

other

compost a growing medium used for growing plants in containers

composting the decomposition of organic matter in a pile before it is applied to soils

compound fertilizers those that supply two or more of the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and

potassium

consumers organisms which feed on other living organisms

corm a swollen and compressed underground stem which acts as a food storage

organ

corolla collective name for all the petals

cross pollination pollen transfer between flowers on different plants

cultivar a variation within a species which has usually arisen, and has been

maintained, in cultivation

cultivated plant a plant that does not exist in the wild anywhere

cultural control a procedure, or manipulation of the growing environment, that results in

weed, pest, or disease control

deciduous a plant that sheds all its leaves at once, often at the end of the growing

season

decomposer an organism that breaks down dead organic matter (see saprophyte)

dehiscent fruit a fruit that splits open to release the seeds

detritivore an organism that feeds on decomposed organic matter

development the changes in structure, form and behaviour that take place through a

plant's life cycle

differentiation the changes that take place in a cell, tissue or organ enabling it to perform a

specific function

diffusion the movement of a substance from a high concentration to a lower

concentration

dioecious plants with male and female flowers on different plants

dormancy the condition when viable seed fails to germinate even when all germination

requirements are met

drainage the removal of gravitational (excess) water

ecoystem a community of living organisms together with their non-living environment

functioning together as a unit

ephemerals a plant that has several life cycles in a growing season

epigeal germination germination in which the cotyledon/s emerge above the ground, initially
enclosed in the testa

erosion the movement of rock fragments or soil

essential minerals inorganic substances necessary for the plant to grow and develop. Often

referred to as 'nutrients'

etiolation abnormal growth occuring in low light levels

evergreen a plant retaining leaves in all seasons