Glossary of Gardening Terms

Index E

Earth Up:
   To draw soil up around a plant to exclude light, promote further root growth from the stem, or to protect against frost.
Ecodormancy:
   The condition of non-growth imposed upon a bud by unfavourable growing conditions such as low temperature.
Embrocate:
   Bathe etc. to mitigate disease.
Embryo:
   The rudimentary plant contained in a seed. It consists of radicle and plumule and one or more cotyledons
Emmenagogic:
   Promoting menstrual discharge
Emollient:
   Softening or relaxing application.
Endemic:
   Specific to (a region or country)
Endocarp:
   The innermost layer of the pericarp.
Endodormancy:
   Dormancy of a bud or seed imposed by conditions within the dormant structure itself.
Endogenous dormancy:
   Dormancy caused or related to factors within the dormant organ itself. Hormone levels within a bud may inhibit it's growth, so that although all environmental factors around the bud are stimulating growth, no growth is seen. (See exogenous dormancy for comparison
Endosperm:
   The food storage tissue of cereal grains. It contains starch.
Ensiform:
   Sword shaped.
Entire:
   Leaf-margins without divisions.
Enzyme:
   A substance produced from a gene that controls or regulates chemical reactions and hence controls the entire organism.
Epicormic:
   Refers to strong shoots that develop under the bark of a tree or shrub, often close to pruning cuts or wounds.
Epicotyl:
  The upper portion of the embryo axis or seedling, above the cotyledons and below the first true leaves.
Epidermis:
  The outermost cell layer of a plant. These cells are often covered by the cuticle layer.
Epigeal germination:
  The type of seed germination in dicots where the cotyledons rise above the soil surface. (e.g., beans)
Epigynous:
   Inferior ovary. Having floral parts arise above the ovary.
Epiphyte:
   Plant growing on another, but physiologically independent.
Epinasty:
  The downward curling of plants or plant parts in response to exposure to auxin-type herbicides or high levels of ethylene.
Erect:
   Upright; perpendicular to the ground.
Ericaceous:
  

Belonging to the Ericaceae family.

Heath-like or allied to the genus Erica.

Potting compost with a pH of 6.5 or less, suitable for growing acid-loving plants.

Erosion:
   The wearing away, washing away, or removal of soil by wind, water or man.
Espalier:
   Framework upon which fruit trees or shrubs are trained.
Ethephon:
   A chemical compound which breaks down to form ethylene gas, and is used as a means of applying ethylene to plants or fruit.
Ethylene:
   A gaseous growth inhibiting hormone involved in fruit ripening, and abscission.
Etiolation:
  A condition involving lack of chlorophyll, increased stem elongation, and poor leaf development. It is seen on plants growing in constant darkness.
Evapotranspiration:
   The total loss of water from both evaporation from soil and transpiration from leaf surfaces. The combined term is used because it is difficult to distinguish water vapour as having come from one source or the other.
Evergreen:
   Any perennial plant on which the leaves survive the winter, and live for several seasons.
Evolution:
   The gradual development of different species over long periods of time by slow introduction of genetic changes in existing species.
Excitant:
   Drug etc. that stimulates activity.
Exocarp:
   The outermost layer of the pericarp.
Exogenous dormancy:
   Dormancy caused by or related to factors external to the dormant organ. A bud may not grow in winter simply because the temperature is too low to permit growth. (See endogenous dormancy for comparison.)
Exotic:
   of plants that are not native; alien.
Exothermic:
   Any chemical reaction which has a net output of energy.
Expectorant:
   That which promotes the ejection of phlegm etc. from chest or lungs.
Eye:
   Centre of a flower, usually contrasting with the main colour.
Evaporation:
   Process by which water returns to the air. Higher temperatures speed the process of evaporation.

Last updated 10 March, 2002
© copyright 1999, P. A. Owen