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Gardening - Term Explanations

cwf-fcf.org > English > What We Do > ... > Glossary > Gardening
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  • Gardening Terms
  • Plant Terms

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A 

 
abiotic
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abiotic
A non-living aspect of the environment such as light, water, temperature, or climate. The opposite of abiotic is biotic.
Antenna
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Antenna
(plural: antennae) A mobile appendage on the head of an animal (e.g., an insect) that is sensitive to touch, and in some cases, taste.
Asterism
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Asterism
A pattern of stars, but not officially a constellation
atmosphere
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atmosphere
A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, among other gases, that surround the Earth. The atmosphere has four layers that are determined by temperatures troposphere (closest), stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere (farthest).
Attributes
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Attributes

Lists some of the special qualities certain plants have which may make them more attractive as garden selections.

Please note that the attribute "deer resistant" only indicates those plants which are least likely to be damaged by deer. Selection of food plants by deer can vary greatly between different regions and at various times of year. Plants unappealing to deer at one time may seem more appealing during times of food scarcity.

"Drought tolerant" refers to established plants. Many plants require sufficient moisture to become established but can tolerate drought later in the season.


 

B  ^ To the Top

 
bacteria
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bacteria
(singular: bacterium): single-celled, microscopically small organisms in the Monera kingdom. A bacterial cell differs from the cells of higher organisms in that it is simpler (i.e., lacks most of the internal structures) and has no distinct (i.e., membrane-bound) nucleus. There are thousands of species of bacteria, but they occur in only three different shapes: spherical, rodlike, or curved. Some bacteria cause diseases, while others are necessary to good health (e.g., some intestinal bacteria). They can be found in all ecosystems.
biowall
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biowall
A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, among other gases, that surround the Earth. The atmosphere has four layers that are determined by temperatures troposphere (closest), stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere (farthest).
Bloom Time
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Bloom Time

Lists the time of year the plant flowers. Due to the variability of bloom time across the country and in different locations this is given by season instead of by month. There may be some yearly shifts in bloom times due to variations in the weather.


 

C  ^ To the Top

 
canopy
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canopy
the layer formed by the leaves and branches of a forest’s tallest trees.
carbon cycle
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carbon cycle
This term describes the flow of carbon through the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere and lithosphere.
carbon dioxide
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carbon dioxide
A colourless, odourless gas that is naturally present in the atmosphere and produced by the breathing of animals and burning of fossil fuels.
carbon neutral
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carbon neutral
An equivalent amount of carbon dioxide is captured (sequestered) through photosynthesis during the production of the biomass resource as is released during its combustion.
Cautions
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Cautions

Lists some areas of concern for the selected plant. These are given where known, however, the absence of any listed caution does not indicate that the plant is necessarily trouble free.

The caution "can be toxic" indicates that part or all of the plant may be toxic to humans or animals if eaten. Again, this is only listed for those plants where this information is known and the absence of this caution does not indicate that any plant is safe for consumption.

The caution "ensure not wild collected" is listed for certain plants which have a history of being wild collected, are considered species at risk in some or all of their native range, or which are difficult and time-consuming to propagate (so more likely to be wild collected for sale). If purchasing these plants please take extra care to ensure that they are nursery propagated and not collected from the wild.

The caution "need both male and female plants" refers to plants which have male and female flowers on different plants so that both are needed for the production of fruit.

Please be careful with plants listed as "aggressive spreader" if your garden is adjacent to any natural areas to prevent their spread to and invasion of these areas. Grow them in contained areas and use root guards and dead-heading to prevent their spread through root or seed.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
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chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Organic compounds made up of atoms of carbon, chlorine and fluorine. Gaseous CFCs can deplete the ozone layer when they rise into the stratosphere, get broken down by ultraviolet radiation and then release chlorine atoms that react with ozone molecules.
climate
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climate
Weather conditions that regularly occur in a region.
climate change
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climate change
Natural and human-induced changes in climate that last from decades to centuries.
Colour
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Colour

Lists the colour of the flowering part of each plant. For non-flowering plants the colour given is that of the leaves.

Common Name
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Common Name

Lists the common name or names for each plant. Please note that common names often vary from region to region. An effort was made to include as many of the common names as possible for each plant.


 

D  ^ To the Top

 
dabbling ducks
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dabbling ducks
ducks that frequent shallow marshes, ponds, and rivers and “tip up” to feed: they feed with their bodies above water and their heads below water. They take off vertically when startled.

 

E  ^ To the Top

 
echinoderm
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echinoderm
any marine invertebrate of the phylum Echinodermata, usually having shiny skin.

 

F  ^ To the Top

 
family
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family
in taxonomy, a major grouping of organisms; below an order and above a genus.
food mile
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food mile
The distance food or produce travels from the point of its production to the consumer. It is a method used to determine the environmental impact of food production and transportation.
fossil fuels
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fossil fuels
Carbon-based compounds such as coal, oil, refined petroleum products like gasoline and natural gas. These produce carbon dioxide when burned.

 

G  ^ To the Top

 
game animal
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game animal
legal designation for wild animals, usually mammals or birds, that may be hunted for sport or food and that are subject to legal regulations.
genus
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genus

a major category in the classification of plants, animals, and other organisms, more specific than the family and more general than the species; a group of species that are more closely related to one another than to other species. See “taxonomy.”  

global warming
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global warming
A rise in the temperature of the atmosphere caused by an increase in the greenhouse effect.
greenhouse effect
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greenhouse effect
A rise in the temperature of the atmosphere caused by an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
greenhouse gases
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greenhouse gases
Vapours, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons that blanket the Earth.

 

H  ^ To the Top

 
Habitat
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Habitat

Gives a brief description of the natural habitat of each plant.

heat island effect
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heat island effect
When heat from a large urban area concentrates in a “dome” shape because of the way pollution and physical structures, such as tall buildings and pavement, have modified the land’s surface.
Height at Maturity
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Height at Maturity

Gives the approximate height of the plant at full size. Please note that this can vary according to the suitability of the site. Some native plants can reach greater heights in a garden situation than in the wild due to less competition and more available nutrients.

hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
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hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Compounds that were introduced as alternatives to ozone-depleting substances in industrial, commercial and personal needs, containing hydrogen, fluorine and carbon atoms.

 

I  ^ To the Top

 
ice floe
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ice floe
a drifting sheet of ice.

 

K  ^ To the Top

 
keystone species
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keystone species
a species whose removal causes marked changes to a community or ecosystem.

 

L  ^ To the Top

 
land-based pollution
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land-based pollution
pollution, including agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and industrial waste, that results from human activities on land.
Light
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Light

Indicates the amount of sunlight the plant should ideally receive. Some plants thrive in a range of light situations while others require more specific conditions. Consult their habitat description for a better idea of the kinds of sites they prefer.

  1. Sun indicates the plant prefers a location which receives direct sun for most of the day or approximately 6 hours or more of direct sun.
  2. Partial shade can indicate an area with only filtered sunlight most of the day or one which receives direct sun for only 2 to 4 hours of the day.
  3. Full shade indicates an area which receives less than 2 hours of direct sun each day.

 

M  ^ To the Top

 
methane (CH4)
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methane (CH4)
Methane is created when the decomposition of waste takes place without enough oxygen, for example in landfills, animal waste and incomplete fossil-fuel combustion.
microinvertebrate
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microinvertebrate
an invertebrate that is visible to the naked eye, such as an insect, snail, or worm.
Moisture
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Moisture

Indicates the plant's preferred soil moisture. Some plants can tolerate a range of moisture regimes, but others are more particular.

montane
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montane
growing in, or inhabiting, mountain areas

 

N  ^ To the Top

 
natal
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natal
related to birth or being born.
Native Province
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Native Province

Lists all Canadian provinces and territories for which the plant is considered a native component of the flora. Please note that the listing of a plant as native to a particular province does not necessarily indicate that the plant is native to all areas of that province. To find out if a particular plant is native to your local area please consult regional native plant guides or contact local naturalist groups, horticultural groups or native plant societies. We encourage the use of plants native to your specific area.

In some cases a qualifier has been added to indicate the limitations of a plants range within a province. For example, sAB would indicate the plant is found only in the southern part of Alberta.

nitrous oxide (N2O)
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nitrous oxide (N2O)
A colourless, non-flammable gas with a sweetish odour, used as an anesthetic and commonly known as laughing gas. Major sources of nitrous oxide include soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, as well as fossil fuel combustion.

 

O  ^ To the Top

 
ocean
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ocean
a large expanse of sea. The oceans surrounding Canada are the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic.
ocean conveyor belt
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ocean conveyor belt
A complex heat and salt exchange system in the planet's interconnected surface and deepwater oceans.

 

P  ^ To the Top

 
pack ice
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pack ice
a floating mass of ice that forms in the Earth’s polar oceans; the mass expands to cover a greater area in winter and contracts in summer. The pack ice of the Northern Hemisphere covers an average area of more than 10 million km2.
Plant Type
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Plant Type

Identifies each plant according to various accepted groupings such as shrub, perennial or grass.


 

Q  ^ To the Top

 
qiviut
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qiviut
the underfur of the muskox, used as wool.

 

R  ^ To the Top

 
race
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race
a subspecies of an animal species or a variety of a plant species; sometimes used more loosely to refer to either a genus, species, breed, or variety.

 

S  ^ To the Top

 
salt marsh
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salt marsh
marsh forms affected by the daily or seasonal influence of brackish to saline waters, generally in coastal or dry prairie conditions.
Scientific Name
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Scientific Name

lists the botanical name (genus and species) for each of the plants listed.

solar heat
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solar heat
Energy generated by the sun.

 

T  ^ To the Top

 
taiga
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taiga
sparsely treed belt of subarctic forest in the Northern Hemisphere that blends into the tundra in the north and the boreal forest in the south. In Canada the taiga extends from the coast of Labrador to the Mackenzie Delta.
telework
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telework
Working remotely from home or a home office.
thermohaline circulation system
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thermohaline circulation system
The flow of ocean water caused by changes in the water's density.

 

U  ^ To the Top

 
underfur
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underfur
the dense layer of fur, short hairs, or wool under the long outer coat of an animal.
ungulate
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ungulate
a hoofed mammal

 

V  ^ To the Top

 
vascular plants
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vascular plants
seed plants, such as flowering trees, shrubs, herbs, and the conifers, as well as other plants, like the ferns and horsetails that reproduce by spores. All of these have specialized conducting cells organized as vascular tissues in their roots, stems, and leaves. They conduct water and inorganic nutrients as well as food made by green cells throughout the plant. These tissues allow vascular plants to grow to considerable size.

 

W  ^ To the Top

 
waste
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waste
a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material discarded from industrial, mining, agricultural, commercial, or residential operations.
Wildlife Benefit
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Wildlife Benefit

Gives the possible use of the plant by various forms of wildlife. This information is gathered from a wide variety of sources and, therefore, the appeal to various wildlife will vary among the plants listed.


 

Y  ^ To the Top

 
yard up
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yard up
a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material discarded from industrial, mining, agricultural, commercial, or residential operations.

 

Z  ^ To the Top

 
zero population growth
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zero population growth
the maintenance of population numbers at a fixed level.
Zone
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Zone

Gives the hardiness zone listing for each plant where available. This information is gathered from a variety of different sources and is meant only as a rough guide. Each garden is different and many factors can affect the survival of a plant. Therefore, use this field for reference only and refer to your local supplier for information on the plants hardiness in your area. Or better yet, choose plants native to your local area to be sure of their ability to thrive in the local climate.

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Gardening Glossary

Look up a term, compare illustrated plant parts or view general illustrations showing the elements of leaves, trees, fruit, flowers and more!

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