by Mary Free and Christa Watters, Extension Master Gardeners
In order to back up and bolster the wealth of original content provided on our web site, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV) has spent the last five years building an Illustrated Glossary of horticultural and botanical terms. The first year (2021), we shared our work progress through a feature called “Word of the Week.” In the succeeding years, we introduced new words monthly under the titles, Featured Glossary Word, The Last Word, and New to the Glossary.
During that time, we defined 313 words in 113 pages. Besides explanations of varying length, the glosses included about 1396 photographs/illustrations, 76 diagrams/charts, and 10 videos, images mostly created by our own Master Gardeners. We also began updating our Tried and True Native Plant Selections fact sheets to include links to those glossary words—we will finish updating the fact sheets this year.
Now, however, we are taking a hiatus from adding words to the glossary—although we may sneak in a few new ones now and again. We do not plan to rest on our laurels though. Instead, we are creating a Word Quiz of the Week to challenge your botanical word memory. Each Monday, we will pose a question related to a word in the glossary and provide a hint, pictures, and the link where you will find the answer.
Prepare yourself with the sample quiz below:
What are the two types of cones on a conifer?
The name conifer is derived from the Latin words “conus” and “ferre,” meaning cone-bearing. These scaly reproductive structures, along with scaly foliage, distinguish the woody plants in the order Coniferales. Conifers generally bear separate male and female cones on the same plant. What does each produce?
Click here to find the answer. Also, check out HOW TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN CONIFER SPECIES.
Good Luck, Happy Gardening, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!