Plant Identification Terminology

Every discipline has its jargon, which provides a common language for understanding and communicating. Botany is no exception. In order to identify a plant, you must be able to observe and describe it. Trees, shrubs, vines, and plants are similar in that they typically have some sort of root, stem, leaf, inflorescence or flower, and fruit; but the variations and combinations are vast. Botanical terms provide the language for observation and plant identification, but, as with other disciplines, there are differences in interpretation and historical usage.

I frequently turn to Plant Identification Terminology An Illustrated Glossary by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, published by Spring Lake Publishing, Utah (second edition, 2001). The book includes a glossary of about 2400 terms and supporting illustrations, and is divided into two parts. Part one is an alphabetical glossary of the terms; part two is organized into categories: roots, stems, leaves, surfaces, inflorescences, flowers, and fruits. The leaves section alone spans 17 pages, with descriptions of leaf parts, shapes, bases, apices, division, venation, margins, attachment, and arrangement. To get the full picture you need to delve into the surfaces section, which spans another 9 pages. And leaves are easy compared with flowers and inflorescences!

The general shape of the Camellia leaf is obovate, with an apiculate tip, lustrous surface, and crenulate margin.	The hydrangea leaf is similar in shape and margin, but the surface is lighter green, and the veination pattern differs.
Black pine needles are a leaf variation.	Sedge leaves resembles scales.
The lacy configuration of this fern is described as bipinnate - with the divisions also pinnately divided.	This shrub has a similar bipinnate configuration, but completely different leaf structure.
This Japanese maple has a palmate structure, with dissected leaf tips.	Contrast with this Japanese maple's palmate structure.
The leaves are lobed, and the thorns are a leaf variation.	Leaf, thorn, and berry configuration of the Washington thorn bush.
The leaves are oval with a distinctive veination pattern. Leaves are alternate.	 These leaves have more of a lanceolate shape, also in an alternate pattern.
The leaves of this plant grow in a whorl, with solitary inflorescence.	The azalea leaves also grow in a whorl, with the flower in its center.

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I can look to my own small garden to see the diversity of plants, and practice the art and science of describing plants. As I learn more, I'm sure my descriptions will change and become more precise. In the meantime, the exercise forces me to really look at a plant and its parts, and stretch my descriptive vocabulary.