…a plant species well adapted to recently disturbed areas, and generally one of the first colonizers. Such habitats tends to be high in recently released nutrients. Note that potatoes, barley, other crops and “weeds” also meet these criteria.

… a leafless flowering stem that arises from a cluster of leaves at the base of a plant

… like petals, sepals are one of the outer parts of a flower. Most often, they are green and “outside” or “below” the petals, serving as a support structure and as protection when the flower is still in the bud. Collectively, all the sepals together form the calyx.

… an ecological adaptation in which seed release occurs in response to an environmental trigger, in particular, fire, often long after seeds have matured.

… seated, as in a leaf or flower that is attached to the stem with no pedicel, petiole or other stalk.

… the long, narrow seedpod of many Brassicaceae, splitting open lengthwise when mature.

A flower cluster like a raceme, but with each flower directly attached to the stalk with no pedicel (short stem).

A small or secondary spike, characteristic of grasses and sedges, bearing one or more florets.

… the “stem” of a fern or mushroom