Glossary of terms - E

emarginate

Having a shallow notch at the tip, as in some petals and leaves.

endemic

Native only to a particular geographic or cultural designation (country, state, county, island, region, etc.).

ensiform

Sword-shaped.

entire

Leaf: Not divided; Margin: having a smooth margin, not lobed or toothed (though it may be wavy or scalloped).

entomophilous

When a seed plant has an insect pollinator.

ephemeral

Short lived.

epidermis

the outermost layers of cells

epigynous

The ovary lies below the attachment of other floral parts - a flower with this arrangement is described as epigynous.

epiphyte

A plant which grows upon another plant.  Unlike a parasite, it merely uses the host plant for structural support, or as a way to get off the ground and into the canopy environment.

epithet

The adjectival component in a binomial nomenclature; final word or combination of words in a name of more than one word (other than a term denoting rank) that denominates an individual taxon.  E.g. species.

etymology

The study of the origin of words and the historical development of their meaning.

evapotranspiration

The amount of water that transpires through plant leaves combined with the amount that evaporates from soil.

even-pinnate

Having an even number of leaflets in a compound leaf.  Same as paripinnate.

evergreen

Not deciduous, having leaves all the year round.

exotic

Not native; introduced from another region or country.

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