Glossary

Glossary of Gardening Terms

Index V

Vacuole:		A fluid-filled cavity within the cytoplasm that stores water, sugars, soluble proteins mineral salts and other materials.
Variant:		Plant form that varies to some degree from the norm.
Variagated: Variegation:		Leaves which are marked with multiple colors. Irregular arrangement of pigments, usually as a result of mutation or sometimes, disease.
Varietas: Variety:		A subdivision of a species found in nature which possesses some stable characteristic which makes it distinct from other members of its species.
Vascular:		Containing conductive tissue, enabling sap to pass around the plant.
Vasodilatory:		Drug causing dilation of blood vessels.
Vector:		A carrier, such as an insect that transports a pathogen to a healthy plant.
Vegetative Propagation:		Asexual techniques for increasing plants, by cuttings, division, grafting, or layering.
Vein:		Fibrous strand of vascular tissue that conducts sap through the plant.
Venation:		Arrangements of veins on leaves.
Ventilation:		Control of air movement under glass to avoid atmospheric stagnation and regulate temperature.
Vermiculite:		Light, mica-like mineral added to potting compost to improve aeration and moisture retention.
Vermifuge:		Drug that expels intestinal worms.
Vernalisation:		The transition of a vegetative plant or shoot to a floral state following an extended exposure to low temperatures.
Verticil: Verticillate:		Whorl, set of parts radiating from axis, as in flowers of the Labiatae.
Viable:		Applied to seed capable of germination.
Virus:		Submicroscopic parasites responsible for causing a variety of diseases.
Viviparous:		Describes plant that forms plantlets on leaves, infloresences, or stems. Also applied loosely to plants that produce bulbils or bulblets on these organs.