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Glossary: G

galea galea
The concave, hoodlike upper lip of some flowers, such as some species in the Lamiaceae and Orobancaceae and other families.
gall gall
Abnormal proliferating tissue, usually produced in stems or leaves by a parasite, insect, or fungus.
gamete
Egg or sperm.
gametophyte gametophyte
A type of plant that produces gametes (eggs and/or sperm).
gamopetalous
With joined petals.
gamophyllous gamophyllous
With leaf bases joined around a stem so the stem seems to pierce the leaves.
gemma gemma
A small, adventitious bud produced by ferns and some Lycophytes that can develop into a plantlet identical to the parent plant (plural: gemmae).
gemmiferous gemmiferous
Bearing gemmae.
genus
The grouping in a taxonomic hierarchy that encompasses related species (plural: genera); a family is made up of related genera.
gibbous gibbous
Noticeably swollen on one side.
girdle girdle
The central sector of a quillwort (Isoetes) megaspore just below the ridge that marks the equator; the texture of the girdle relative to the rest of the megaspore is helpful in telling species apart.
glabrate glabrate
Now nearly smooth, but once having had hairs.
glabrous glabrous
Without hairs.
gland gland
A protuberance or depression on an organ or at the summit of a hair that produces a sticky or greasy substance.
glandular glandular
Bearing glands.
glaucous
With a waxy bluish-gray or green bloom.
globose globose
Shaped like a sphere.
glochidium glochidium
A bristle or spine bearing one or more barbs.
glomerule glomerule
Dense, rounded cluster; usually refers to bunches of sessile flowers.
glume glume
The bracts (usually in pairs) at the base of a grass (or sometimes Cyperaceae) spikelet.
glutinous
Covered with a sticky substance.
graminoid graminoid
Grass-like, with long, narrow leaves.
gymnosperm
Plants that bear seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary.
gynecandrous gynecandrous
In Carex species, spikes that contain both male and female flowers, with the females positioned above the males.
gynoecium gynoecium
The collective term for the female organs (carpels) of a flower.
gynophore gynophore
A stalk that elevates the gynoecium above the flower base.