Glossary of Gardening Terms

Index F

F1 Hybrid:
   Vigorous and uniform first generation offspring, derived from crossing 2 distinct, pure bred lines.
F2 Hybrid:
   Hybrids resulting from self-pollination within a population of F1 hybrids, they will not come true to form.
Fall:
   Hanging perianth segments of iris flower.
False Fruit:
   Type of fruit of which the fleshy part is not derived from the ovary.
Family:
   A grouping of genetically related plants that usually contains several genera and numerous species. The family name is derived from the most common genus to which the standard "aceae" ending is added. (e.g., the Aster family is Asteraceae)
Fancy:
   Describes a flower that is flaked, flecked or striped in contrast to the ground colour.
Fan Palm:
   Palm with fan-like, palmate leaves rather than pinnate leaves.
Fascicle:
   Cluster.
Feathered:
  

Describes a standard tree with a stem or trunk that is branched to the base with lateral feathers.

Describes a flower with feather-like markings in contrast to the main colour (particularly in tulips).
Febrifuge:
   Medicine to reduce fever.
Fern:
   Non-flowering vascular plant, often with feather-like fronds.
Fertile:
  

Refers to organs that produce functional pollen, spores or seed.

Describes soil with a high content of nutrients essential to plant growth.
Fertilisation:
   Sexual fusion of male and female elements initialising seed production.
Fertiliser:
   Nutrients added to soil, compost etc. to promote plant growth. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the chief elements used in inorganic fertilisers. Organic fertilisers are based on decomposed plant and animal matter.
Fibrous root system:
   A system of roots where the radicle does not remain dominant, but branches to produce many fine roots of approximately the same size.
Field capacity:
   The state at which a soil is holding the maximum amount of water it can after free water has drained through and no surface water remains.
Filament:
  The stalk of a stamen which supports the anther.
Fimbriate:
   Edged or bordered.
Floret:
  A small flower. The term floret is most often used for the flowers of grasses or the sessile flowers on a capitulum
Flabellate:
   Fan-shaped.
Flaked:
   Describes a flower in which another colour overlies the ground colour in large splashes.
Floret:
   Tiny, individual flower within an inflorescence, such as a grass flower in a spikelet.
Floriculture:
   Cut flower and flowering plant production.
Flower:
   Reproductive shoot of plant formed of perianth segments, the sepals and petals (where present), stamens and/or carpels.
Flowerhead:
   Inflorescence consisting of a central group of tiny disc-florets, usually ringed by ray-florets, borne on a compressed axis or stem.
Flower Stalk:
   Stalk supporting an individual flower or fruit singly or in an inflorescence.
Fluted:
   With long, rounded, vertical grooves.
Foliar Feed:
   Dilute solution of fertiliser applied to the leaves.
Follicle:
   A dry dehiscent fruit which splits along one side to disperse its seed.
Force:
   To induce growth and/or flowering or fruiting prematurely.
Forestry:
  The branch of agricultural plant science dealing with production of trees for wood and fibre products
Formative Pruning:
   Training of young trees or shrubs to produce a framework of strong evenly spaced stems or branches.
Frame:
   Glazed, box like structure used to protect plants from excessive cold.
Frond:
   Leaf-like organ in ferns, differing from leaves in bearing spores.
Frost:
   The condensation and freezing of moisture in the air. Tender plants will suffer extensive damage or die when exposed to frost.
Frost-Hardy:
   Able to withstand temperatures down to -5C (23F).
Frost-Tender:
   May be damaged by temperatures below 5C (41F)
Fruit:
   Ripened ovary and any attached structures that ripen with it.
Frutescent:
   Woody stemmed; shrub-like
Fully-Hardy:
   Able to withstand temperatures down to -15C (5F).
Fungicide:
  Any pesticide used to control fungus.
Fungus:
   A simple plant lacking chlorophyll and conductive tissue, often responsible for diseases in higher plants.
Fusiform:
   Spindle-shaped.

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