Botanical Words Alphabetical List - CR

CREEPER: A plant that grows along the surface of the soil or any other surface such as a wall or fence, by sending out rootlets from the stem. (i.e. Ivy -Hedera, Virginia Creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Trumpet Creeper - Campsis radicans)

CREEP SOIL: The downward, slow, irregular mass movement of sloping soil.

CRENATE: Toothed with shallow, rounded scallops, as the edges of a leaf. When the scallops have smaller ones upon them, the leaf is said to be doubly crenate.

CRENULATE: Minutely crenate.

CREST: Also called fasciation; a mutation that results when the growing point of a plant forms a long line, rather that a single point. In botanical terms, it is usually signified by cristate.

CRISPATE: Curled or rippled at the edge such as the leaves of Pittosporum eugenioides. Also crisped.

CROCKS: Broken pieces of clay pot, used to cover drainage holes of pots in order to provide free drainage and air circulation to the root system and to prevent the medium (i.e. soil) from washing down the holes.

CROSS: 1. To produce a hybrid plant by cross-fertilizing individuals of different varieties or species. 2. A hybrid produced by cross-fertilization.

CROSS-FERTILIZATION: The fertilization of the ovules of one flower by the pollen of another, either between plants of the same species or between individuals of different species, resulting in the production of a hybrid.

CROWN: The basal part at soil level where roots and stem join and from where new shoots are produced; the tops of the rootstocks.

CRUCIATE: Having leaves or flowers in the shape of a cross with equal arms, as certain members of the Mustard family.

CRUMB STRUCTURES: The porous granular structure in soil.

CRUST: A thin, dry, hard layer of soil that forms on the surface of many soils when they are exposed to excessive heat.

CRUSTACEOUS: Having a hard, brittle texture.

CRYPTOGAM: A plant, such as a fern, which reproduces by means of spores rather than seeds.

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