acrostichoid (describing a type of sorus) Covering the entire abaxial surface of a frond, usually densely so, as in Elaphoglossum and Acrostichum. acrophyll The regular leaves of a mature plant, produced above the base, as opposed to bathyphyll. acropetal Moving from roots to leaves, e.g. achene A dry, one-seeded indehiscent fruit in which the true fruit is not the so-called 'berry', but the achenes, which are the so-called 'seeds' on the infructescence, e.g. aceae A suffix added to the stem of a generic name to form the name of a taxonomic family for example, Rosaceae is the rose family, of which the type genus is Rosa.

accumbent Lying against another part of the plant when applied to a cotyledon, it means that one edge of the cotyledon lies along the radicle. Antonym of caulescent (possessing stem) accrescent Increasing in size with age, such as a calyx that continues to grow after the corolla has fallen, e.g. Examples include some species of Agave, Oxalis, and Attalea. acaulescent Having no apparent stem, or at least none visible above the ground surface. Such tissue is commonly formed, for example, at the base of a petiole or pedicel. abscission zone A specialised layer of tissue that allows an organ to be shed by abscission when it is ripe or senescent. abscission The shedding of an organ that is mature or aged, as of a ripe fruit or an old leaf. abort To abandon development of a structure or organ. the lower surface of a lateral organ such as a leaf or petal. abaxial The surface of an organ facing away from the organ's axis, e.g. Axillary buds in leaf ab- A prefix meaning 'from, away from, or outside'.

Pellucid antonym