Glossary

adnate Joined for some part of its length to another plant member.
allopathy Treatment by drugs which induce in the body actions of a different kind to those produced by the disease (incorrectly but commonly used to describe the normal system of western medicine).
amenorrhoea Delayed menstruation.
annular Ring-shaped.
antispasmodic A drug that relieves sudden pain (spasm) or convulsions.
antitussives Drugs used for the treatment of coughs.
atony Abnormally low muscular tone.
axil Upper angle between leaf, bract or branch and stem.
biliary stasis Cessation of bile flow.
calculus (i) Stone or concretion in some part of the body.
campanulate Belt-shaped.
capitulum (a) The condensed flower-head (inflorescence) of members of the family Compositae.
carminative A drug which relieves flatulence.
cicatrisation The formation of scar tissue.
cordate Heart-shaped.
coriaceous Leathery texture.
corolla Flower petals.
corymb A group of flowers (inflorescence), the individual flowerstalks being shorter towards the top, so that all the flowers are at approximately the same level.
crenate Rounded marginal teeth (generally of leaf).
cutaneous Of the skin.
decoction see herbal infusions and infused oils.
decussate Arranged in opposite pairs but successive pairs at right angles to each other (of leaves).
dehiscent Opening to shed seed (of fruit).
demulcent A drug which exerts a local soothing action especially on mucous membranes.
dentate Pointed marginal teeth directed outwards (of leaf)
depurative Cleansing or purifying (of blood, wound etc).
diaphoretic A substance that stimulates sweat secretion, digitate see palmate.
dioecious Having the sexes on different plants.
diuretic A substance that increases the formation of urine.
emetic A substance that produces vomiting.
emmenagogue A substance that stimulates menstrual flow. enuresis Incontinence of urine.
expectorants Drugs used in the treatment of dry coughs by increasing the production of sputum.
febrifuge A substance which reduces fever.
filiform Thread-like.
flavonoids A group of glycosides-see Active Plant Constituents
furuncle A boil
fusiform Spindle-shaped
glabrous Free from hairs,
glycoside see Active Plant Constituents
haematoma A bruise or swelling containing clotted blood
haemolysis The dissolution of red blood cells-see under Saponins Active Plant Constituents
haemostatic An agent that stops bleeding.
hastate Spear-shaped.
homeopathy Treatment by drugs, usually in very small doses, which induce in the body actions of a similar kind to those of the disease.
hyperaemea A localised increase in blood content with distention of blood vessels.
imaripinnate Pinnately compound leaf with a terminal unpaired leaflet.
indehiscent Not opening to shed seed (of fruit).
inflorescence Group of flowers and their bracts borne on a simple or branched axis above the last stem leaves.
inulin A carbohydrate produced by many plants of the family Compositae,
involucre Bracts forming a sepal-like structure round the base of a capitulum (see above).
keel Resembling the keel of a boat, especially applied to the lower petal(s) of flowers of the family Papilionaceae.
lanceolate Shaped like the blade of a lance, tapering towards each end.
leucocytes White blood cells.
ligulate Strap-shaped.
ligule The strap-shaped corolla of one type of floret found in the capituta of some Compositae.
monoecious Unisexual flowers both on the same plant,
mucilage see Active Plant Constituents.
mucosa A mucous membrane (e.g. of the mouth).
mucron A short, narrow point (generally of leaf apex).
obovate Broader above the middle (generally of leaf shape)
oedema Dropsy; excessive accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous tissues
orbiculate rounded.
ovate Broader below the middle (generally of leaf shape),
palmate Leaflets (more than 3) arising from the same point.
panicle A branched inflorescence.
papilionaceous Butterfly-like; belonging to the family Papilionaceae.
parenteral Not by the alimentary tract (e.g. drugs administered by injection).
paripinnate Pinnately compound leaf with no terminal leaflet.
pedicel Stalk of a single flower.
peduncle Stalk of an inflorescence.
peristalsis Automatic muscular movement propelling contents along the alimentary canal,
petiolate Leaf having a petiole
petiole Leaf-stalk.
pinnate Leaf with more than 3 leaflets arranged in two rows along a common rachis.
pinnatifid Simple leaf cut in a pinnate manner, forming distinct lobes.
pinnatisect As pinnatifid but some or all incisions reaching almost to the midrib.
plitate Folded.
polymorphic Occurring in different forms.
procument Lying loosely on the surface of the ground.
pubescent Softly hairy.
raceme Unbranched inflorescence of flowers with short stalks, the youngest flowers are nearest to the apex.
rachis Stalk-like axis of a pinnate leaf.
ray-florets Marginal florets (usually ligulate) of the capitula of some Compositae,
reniform Kidney-shaped,
resolutive Reducing inflammation, disintegrating.
reticulate Marked with a network (usually leaf-veins).
revolute Rolled downwards.
rhizome An underground stem.
rubefacien Causing redness of the skin
saponins A group of glvcosides-see Active Plant Constituents
scarious Dry, thin, membranes (of bracts),
serrate Pointed marginal teeth directed towards apex (of leaf).
sessile Without a stalk.
silicious Sandy; composed of mineral silicates.
sinuate Wavy in outline (generally of leaf margin).
spasmolytic see antispasmodic.
spathe Large leafy bract enclosing an inflorescence-see Cuckoopint.
spathulate Paddle-shaped.
sternutatory Inducing sneezing.
stipule Small leaf-like or scale-like appendage at the base of a leaf­stalk.
stolon Short branch creeping on the surface of the ground which strikes roots and develops a new plant.
striate Marked with long narrow ridges or stripes.
strobiles Any fruit resembling a fir-Cone
sudorific see diaphoretic.
suppuration The formation of pus.
taxonomy Classification.
ternate Divided into 3 more or less equal parts.
tisane A tea, an aqueous preparation made by decoction (q.v.) or infusion-see herbal infusions and infused oils.
umbel An inflorescence with flower-stalks of approximately equal lengths all arising from the top of the main stem. Characteristic of all members of the family Umbelliferae.
vasoconstrictor A drug reducing the bore of arteries and so raising the blood pressure.
vermifuge A drug that kills or expels intestinal worms.
vesicant A blistering agent.