Glossary of Terms – ‘M’ WORDS
Word or Term
Definition
Macrantha/Macranthus Botanical Latin term meaning larger flowers
/Macranthum
- macro + anther.
Macronutrients
Maculata/Maculatum
/Maculatus
Manure
Manure Tea
Marginal Plant
Maritima/Maritimus
/Maritimum
Marsh
Mealybug
Media
Meristem
Microclimate
Six elements that are used in relatively
large amounts by plants and are essential
for plant growth: nitrogen, potassium,
magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and
sulphur.
Botanical Latin term meaning spotted or
mottled in some colour - sometimes
variegated.
In gardening terms, manure is decomposed
animal waste material; the same way that
compost is decomposed plant material. It is
used as a soil amendment.
Manure dissolved in water, resulting in a
liquid organic fertilizer.
Plants that will grow on the edges of ponds
or lakes.
Botanical Latin term meaning from a
seashore or maritime area.
Soft wet, low lying land characterized by
herbaceous vegetation, often forming a
transition between land and water.
Scale-like plant-eating insect coated with a
powdery waxy secretion. They are
destructive pests that feed on various plant
juices causing curling and contortion of
leaves.
Botanical Latin term meaning intermediate
between two parent taxa.
Also used for any substrate (organic or not)
used to hold plant roots.
The area of actively dividing cells (growing
tissue) found at the tips of shoots, roots
and in the cambium. All buds contain a
meristem.
A physical area with a set of conditions
different from those in the surrounding
area. A very local or small scale climate
such as valley or woodland.
The variations of the climate within this
area, are usually influenced by hills,
hollows, structures or proximity to bodies of
water (i.e. when it's raining at your house,
and the sun is shining on the other side of
the street). Gardeners should be aware that
Also see.....
Microcutting
Micronutrients
Micropropagation
Mid-Rib
Mildew
Moist Chilling
Treatment
Mould
Mollis
Monocotyledon
/Monocot
Monoecious
Morifolium
most yards provide a variety of
environments for growing plants. A
southern exposure has sun all day. A
northern exposure may get no direct sun at
all. Eastern exposures tend to provide
shelter from the hottest rays of the sun. All
these factors affect the warmth and
humidity of the air in close proximity to a
plant.
A plant produced by micro propagation - a
modern technique using tiny pieces of the
parent plant on a sterile nutrient jelly. Used
when a limited amount of plant material is
available.
Mineral elements which are needed by
some plants in very small quantities for the
proper growth and health. Eight have been
identified: iron, zinc, molybdenum,
manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, and
chlorine.
A tissue culture technique for plant
propagation in which offspring are cloned
from tissue taken from a single plant.
The rib or central thick vein running down
the centre of a leaf.
Mildew is the collective name for a fungus
of the variety Erysiphacae. Two popular
types are downy mildew and powdery
mildew. Although unrelated, both leave a
white coating on the leaves. It's affect on
plants can be anywhere from mild to
devastating. Common to crepe myrtle,
zinnias, grapes, and roses - even bee
balms. It shows up in cool, wet weather.
Drip irrigation can prevent some
occurrences. Plant disease resistant
varieties (if available) where mildew is a
problem.
A means of enhancing the germination of
some seeds by storing them under moist
conditions at low temperatures prior to
planting them.
A downy or hairy type of fungus found on
decaying plant tissue.
Botanical Latin term meaning soft. Usually
referring to a covering of soft hairs on the
leaves and stems.
Seedling of flowering plant which has only
one leaf when it first germinates.
A plant which bears both male and female
flowers on the same plant.
Botanical Latin term meaning leaves
Morphology
Mother Block
Mulch
(folium) like mulberry (Morus).
The study of the form and structure of
organisms without consideration of
function.
A certified group of plants used to derive
propagation tissues.
An organic soil covering such as leaves,
straw or peat, placed around plants to
maintain soil temperature and prevent the
evaporation of moisture, the freezing of
roots, and the growth of weeds. Mulch
improves soil fertility and structure, reduces
pest and disease damage, prevents erosion
and can even improve the flavour of crops.
Some use it for decorative purposes as well
(uniform look to landscape). There are
many types of materials that make good
mulch.