Botanical Words Alphabetical List - AM

AMENDMENT: Anyconditioner or material (ie. Lime, gypsum, etc.) that is added or mixed into the soil to make in more productive.

AMENT: A catkin; a slim spike-like and usually pendent flower cluster like those found on Willow, Poplar and Birch trees. Aments are either male or female. Some plants produce both male and female aments; others produce male aments on one plant and female on another.

AMINO ACID: A nitrogen containing organic compound that is linked together to form a protein molecule.

AMMONIA: 1. A colorless gas made up of one part nitrogen and three parts hydrogen. 2. A gas that can be liquified under pressure to be used as a fertilizer.

AMMONIFICATION: The act of forming ammonium compounds from organic material by various organisms.

AMMONIUM ION: A form that nitrogen takes in many commercial fertilizers.

AMMONIUM NITRATE: 1. An organic fertilizer that will add nitrogen to the soil. 2. The form that nitrogen takes in numerous commercial fertilizers.

AMMONIUM SULFATE: An inorganic fertilizer applied to soil (20.6 % N.).

AMPHICARPOUS: Refers to a plant that produces two classes of fruit that differ either in form or in time of ripening.

AMPHITROPOUS: Having the seed embryo curved or coiled back along the supporting stalk so that its base and the opening of the pollen tube bend close to each other.

AMPLEXICAUL: Nearly surrounding or embracing the stem, as the base of some leaves.

AMPLEXIFOLIATE: Having leaves that clasp the stem.

AMPULLA: A small bladder of flask-shaped organ attached to the roots or immersed leaves of some aquatic plants, as in Nepenthes or Utricularia.

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