Botanical Words Alphabetical List - MI

MICROCLIMATE: A small, local climate within a larger climate area, such as a greenhouse or a protected area of a garden.

MICRO-NUTRIENTS: Very small amounts of nutrients needed by plants.

MICROPHYLLOUS: 1. Having small leaves. 2. Having leaves with only one unbranched vein.

MICROSPORANGIUM: In plants that produce two types of spores, the receptacle that contains only the smaller type; comparable to the pollen sac of the anther in a seed plant.

MICROSPORE: The smaller type of spore produced by plants that bear two types.

MICROSTYLOUS: A flower that has short styles.

MIDLOBE: The middle lobe of a three-lobed labellum, usually brightly colored and furnished with calli (callus), keels, and/or lamelle.

MIDRIB: Central vein or rib of a leaf.

MILDEW: 1. A growth (usually whitish colored) produced on living plants by fungus. 2. A fungus that causes such growth.

MINERAL: 1. An inorganic substance. 2. The solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element that results from the inorganic process of nature.

MINERALIZATION: The release of mineral matter from organic matter.

MINERAL SOIL: A general term for soil composed mainly of mineral matter.

MITOSIS: This is cell division, such as what occurs after fertilization of the female germ cell by the male. It is usually preceded by halving and differentiation of the chromosomes within the nucleus. Cell division is the process by which plants grow.

MITRIFORM: Having a hollow conical shape, resembling a bishop's miter.

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