Questions tagged [plant-physiology]

for questions related to botany and concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants.

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Should I use the plural or singular verbs for the biological classification of orders, families, tribes, genera etc.?

Some examples from Wikipedia: The hydrangea is a genus... The Heliantheae (sometimes called the sunflower tribe) are the third-largest tribe in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The family ...
Beau Garçon Idol Lucianus's user avatar
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1 answer
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Taxonomy - how to describe something as plantlike?

So I'm writing a story that features Chimeras or hybrid creatures, and I'm wondering what I would call a plant based creature. For other things like a spider creature or bird creature I would call it ...
Gus's user avatar
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Word to describe plants that are negatively affected by being smothered by other plants

Used in the sentence: There was no garden when they moved in, so they are not (???) any existing plants. I wanted to say threatening, but I am curious if a word specifically relating to this ...
ChickenFeet's user avatar
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3 answers
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What is the stick, dug with young plants for support, called?

I am looking for the word/name that describes a stick dug along with young plants to support/direct the plant growth.
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Can I use the word "flesh" when referring to plants/crops?

If not, what would be a more appropriate word? Those potatoes had been potatoes eaten by worms. Now, they were nothing more than lumps of flesh with nothing inside.
wyc's user avatar
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word for burrowing, but by a plant rather than an animal

I would like to describe how deeply a tree's roots go underground. Burrowing is a term used for animals. Is it appropriate to use it in describing the extent to which a certain tree can dig its roots ...
aldosa's user avatar
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4 answers
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What's a common way to refer to the algae that is attached to the bottom of a stream/river?

I'm referring to this: What's a common name to refer to it? Or is algae common enough? (I know seaweed isn't very proper since it's not in the sea).
wyc's user avatar
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What is the numb sensation in the mouth caused by some fruits called?

There are some fruits* that cause a peculiar (unpleasant) numb sensation in the mouth. An unripe persimmon or a quince are two examples that come to mind. I can't describe the feeling any more ...
Armen Ծիրունյան's user avatar
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5 answers
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What is a word for a long period of hibernation before growth?

I am looking for a word or phrase that would describe something as existing but waiting for a catalyst. Or growing very slowly until a a large growth spurt. I'm thinking of the way that seeds can sit ...
grmdgs's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is it "extreme" or "large" diversity for endophytic microorganism subject?

Do I need to substitute the word extreme to large in this text? Endophytic fungi are molds that are found in the healthy plant tissues. Endophytic fungi is mold that exists in the plant tissue ...
rusticmystic's user avatar
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Medical or medicinal? [duplicate]

I am not an English native. I am working in the field of medicinal plants. I like to know why we don't use term "medical plants"? What is the difference between them?
MySky's user avatar
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Hypernym for various parts of a plant

Bark, berry, flower, herb, leaves, nuts, plant, resin, seeds, wood, etc. These are all — what? Parts? components? elements? plant forms? divisions? I have the sense there may be a more elegant word ...
neokio's user avatar
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What's the difference between 'foliage' and 'leafage'?

OED defines these words as: foliage: the leaves (of a plant or tree) collectively; leafage leafage: leaves collectively; foliage Both of them seem to mean almost the same. Google NGram gives the ...
MasterHeartache's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
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Is there a word to describe mature or adult plants?

I know that adult is most often used to describe a mature human-being, and that mature is a broader usage word, describing everything form animals to cheese. Also that a young tree is a sapling....is ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
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What do you call oxidized fruit?

I was just wondering if there was a specific term to refer to fruits when they have undergone oxidation. That is, their flesh turns a yellowish-brown. This usually happens when the fruit has been left ...
Thursagen's user avatar
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"Kernel" vs. "core"

What's the difference between kernel and core? The more I look for a difference between both, the more confused I get. I know both nouns because of IT, but I'm looking for the actual roots in actual ...
cadrian's user avatar
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Why aren’t all grains called “grains”?

In most languages, the word used for a single caryopsis seed is a good equivalent of grain — it is not only the translation for this kind of seeds, but also the translation for other meanings of the ...
rumtscho's user avatar
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6 answers
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What is the word for a plant covered in fine white hairs?

There are some plants whose leaves and stems are not the usual glossy green, but which are covered in very fine white hairs, or white fuzz. One example I have right now in my kitchen would be sage. ...
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