Page 24 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

truding features.
Marginal teeth - Any vegetative part that has teeth along its outer margin. For example, birch leaves as well
as chicory and dandelion petals.
Minute (leaf) - A tiny leaf. For example, baby tears, woolly thyme and Scottish moss.
Monocarpic - Plants that die soon after flowering and setting seed. They can live for a number of years but will
only flower and set seed once in their lifetime. For example, century plants, some yuccas, and bamboo species.
Monocot - All plants that emerge from their seed as a single leaf blade. For example, grasses, sedges and reeds.
Mucronate - The tip of the leaf forms a small point, which is smaller than on a cuspidate leaf. For example,
hazel and crabapple leaves.

Nodding flowers - Flowers that hang downwards on long pedicels, towards the ground instead of being held
erect. For example, nodding onion, lily, and bluebell flowers.
Obcordate (leaf) - The tip of the leaf is a rounded heart shape. For example, wood sorrel and clover leaves.
Oblanceolate - The reverse of a lanceolate leaf, where the tip of the leaf is rounded and slightly broader but
narrows to a point at the base, where it connects to the petiole. For example, red chokeberry and some Euphor-
bia species.
Oblong leaf - The shape of the leaf is roughly oblong shaped, having parallel margins with rounded tips. For
example, lily of the valley, dwarf umbrella trees, and banana leaves.
Obovate leaf - The reverse of an ovate leaf, where the broadest point is towards the top of the leaf. Obovate
leaves are broader and shorter than lanceolate leaves. For example, white clover and horse chestnut leaves.
Obtuse (leaf) - Either the base or the tip is completely rounded. For example, kidney weed and many succulent
leaves like the jade tree.
Opposite leaves - The leaves are arranged into pairs along the stem and sit directly opposite each other. For
example, basil and ash leaves.
Orbicular (leaf) - The leaf is almost completely round and forms a disk. For example, nasturtiums, water lilies,
and some geranium leaves.
Ovary - Bulb-like structures that contains the ovules inside. The ovary sits deep within the flower and receives
pollen for fertilization to eventually produces the seed. It sits on top of the receptacle, usually surrounded by
the calyx.
Ovate (leaf) - The widest point of the leaf is towards the base. For example, common lilac and honeysuckle
tree leaves.

Ovule - Part of the female reproductive organ that contains the egg cells. The ovules are inside the ovary of
the flower.
Palmate (leaves) - The leaf is deeply divided into multiple fronds that extend all the way to the midrib or stalk.
For example, a palm or maple leaf.
Palmatifid - The leaf is shaped like a palm with fingers, being divided into a few fronds, but not as deeply as
palmate leaves. For example, coriander and castor leaves.
Panicle - A loose forming cluster of florets where each flower hangs from its own stalk (pedicel) that is ar-
ranged along a raceme (single stem). For example, grasses, oats, and crabgrass flowers.
Pappus - The feathery hairs or bristles that are attached to some seeds. The pappus is technically a modified
calyx and is usually used for wind dispersal of seeds. For example, grass, dandelion, thistle, and oleander seeds.
Pedicel - The individual flowers in an inflorescence are attached via a pedicel (flower stalk). When the flower
is fertilized, the pedicel becomes the stem of the fruit in some plants.

Peltate (leaf attachment) - The petiole (leaf stalk) is centrally attached to the underside of the leaf. For exam-
ple, water lilies and nasturtium leaves.
Perennial - Any plant that lives longer than 2 years. For example, trees, shrubs, and many herbs and grasses.

Petiolate (leaf attachment) - The leaves are attached to the stem via a petiole (leaf stalk).
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