Glossary of Terms
The following definitions are for use with the Interactive Aquatic Plant ID pages.
| alternate | placed singly on stem and on opposite side from previous leaf |
| axil | the angle between a leaf and the stem or bract from which it originated |
| basal | several leaves or stems arising from a base point |
| bract | a modified leaf reduced to a scale often having a flower in its axil |
| cleft | cut in a leaf margin |
| emergent | growing in water with the majority of the plant extending above the water surface |
| floating | most or all of the plant is on the water surface |
| lanceolate | shaped like a lance, much longer than wide |
| opposite | two leaves placed on opposite sides of the stem |
| palmate veins | veins radiating from the base of a leaf to the tip of the leaf |
| parallel veins | veins running from the base of a leaf to the tip of the leaf |
| petiole | the stalk of a leaf |
| pinnate | divided into leaflets arranged along an axis; feather-like |
| rosette | a cluster of radiating leaves; like a rose |
| rootstock | underground stem |
| stem | the main trunk of a plant |
| submerged | growing below the water surface |
| toothed | having sharp teeth along the margin |
| whorled | three or more leaves at the site of the leaf attachment |