..this post is BOTANICAL TERMS RELATING TO ACACIAS..still compiling it..
- acuminate - coming to or having a fine/sharp point, refers to phyllodes; similar meaning as acute, but refers to extended or long sharp point as opposed to - mucronate, meaning an abrupt short fine point.
- anastomoses - on phyllodes, small veins which diverge at angles (like streams or arteries) from the parallel main veins or nerves.
- aril - a kind of sheath or hood covering the top of the seed, usually joined by the funicle.
- basal-gland - a small dot or round swelling on the leaf edge, either at the base of the phyllode where it joins the petiole, or a few millimeters above the base.; not present in all species.
- bi-pinnate - [see 'pinnate'] - leaflets arrising off the 'secondary petioles', in a feather-like or fern-like pattern; pinnately compound leaves in which the leaflets are themselves pinnately compound; mimosa-like.
- falcate - tending to 'sickle-shaped', refers to phyllodes.
- funicle - a thin stalk connecting the aril to the seed pod.
- glabrous - smooth, glossy with no fine hairs, refers to leaves.
- glaucous - pale grey or bluish-green appearance, usually refers to phyllodes.
- globose - having spherical or globe-like appearance, refers to flowers or seeds.
- inflorescence - a cluster or group of flowers attached to a main stem (penduncle), sometimes single flowers attached to penduncle by 'pedicels'.
- pinnae - small leaves in groups attached to the stems (usually 'bi-pinnate' in acacias), are true compound leaves, unlike phyllodes; all 'juvenile' leaves of acacias are pinnate or bi-pinnate.
- pinnate - leaves arranged in feather-like or fern-like formations arising from both sides of a common axis in a stem.
- pedicel - a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem (peduncle) of the 'inflorescence'.
- peduncle - the main stem of an inflorescense.
- petiole - the stalk or stem that connects the leaf to the plant.
- phyllode - look like leaves on most acacias, are actually a photosynthetic extension of the petiole (which is bark); usually have a few prominent longitudinal nerves, and often many fine longitudinal veins in between these.
- pruinose - resembles covered in white dust/flour.
- pulvinus - the swelling at the base of the petiole, often capable of changing form to bring about movement of leaf, sometimes glandular or responsive to touch.
- raceme - a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis (stalk) ..e.g. usage: "in racemose inflorescences.."..in acacias the raceme (clusters of tiny flowers) are ball-shaped (globose), or 'spikes'.
- rachis - the midrib of a leaf (pinnae), it is usually continuous with the petiole and is often raised above the lamina (the leaf blade); there can be glands present on the rachis.
- reticulate - having a network of veins.
- spikes - 'rod' like clusters (raceme) of flowers 1.5-10cm (e.g. A. longifolia and many species) as opposed to the other kind of acacia flower shape - 'balls';
a Spike is a type of 'raceme' in which individual flowers are 'sessile' (that is, lack pedicels)..in some cases the stalk supporting the cluster becomes the pedicel.
- terete - cylindrical, circular in middle but slightly tapering at both ends, refers usually to phyllodes.
- turgid - swollen or distended, refers to seeds.
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