Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Spinescence
Spininess.
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Spine
A sharp-pointed, hardened structure derived from a leaf, stipule, root or branch, but always originating from the vascular or woody part. (Thorn is derived from a reduced branch, pointed structures from the epidermis are called prickles). A firm, slender, sharp-pointed structure, representing a modified leaf or stipule; more loosely, a structure having the appearance of…
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Spindly
Thin.
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Spindle-shaped
(Of a 3-dimensional structure) straight, tapering from a wider middle towards both ends.
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Spination
Covering of spines [unusual term, not recommended].
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Spikelet
(In Cyperaceae and Gramineae/Poaceae) structure of two sterile bracts (the glumes) with a small axis and a number of florets (each consisting of lemma, palea and flower). A secondary spike or part of a compound spike; in grasses a group of one or more flowers. Diminutive of spike; the minute densely bracteate spike of a…
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Spike
A racemose inflorescence with the flowers alternate and sessile along a common unbranched axis, flowers single or (less precisely) in short clusters; (In Cyperaceae) an aggregation of spikelets or spicoids, sometimes the whole structure is similar in appearance to a spikelet. A more or less elongate inflorescence, with sessile (lacking a stalk) flowers attached directly…
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Spiculate
Covered in minute spines.
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Spicoid bract
(In Cyperaceae) a glume-like bract which subtends the spicoid.
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Spicoid
The ultimate inflorescence unit in Cyperaceae tribes Hypolytreae and Chrysitricheae, with a muchreduced axis and appearing like a flower. It comprises 2–12 floral bracts, each subtending a male flower. The whole structure is terminated by a female flower, thus making it determinate.
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