albescent
having leaves that become whiter as the season progresses; i.e., H. ‘Gold Standard’.

anther
the upper part of the stamen, male flower part, in a capsule-like structure, that splits to release yellow pollen.

apomixis
asexual seed produced without the normal fusion of pollen and egg giving rise to seedlings genetically identical to the pod parent; e.g., H. ventricosa.

axillary
coming from the joint of a leaf and the stem.

back mutation
the mutation of a plant or division from a more complicated state to a more natural state; the pigment change of a division from a variegated (or less pigmented) state to a solid-colored (more chlorophyll) condition.

bloom
1. flower. 2. waxy coating on a leaf, stem, or pod surface producing a dusty appearance.

bloom time
the time period between when the first flower of a stem or clump opens or is receptive to pollination and the last flower is open or receptive.

bract
the diminutive modified leaf or leaflike structure on the flower stem below each flower.

centered out
the dying out of the middle portion of a clump.

chimera
an individual containing cells of two or more different tissues.

chimeral rearrangement
(in Hosta) changing position of the cells between different tissue layers in an individual, ie., a goldmargined hosta producing a gold-centered, all-green, or all-gold division.

clone
a group of genetically identical individuals produced by asexual propagation.

corolla
(in Hosta) the collective set of petals and sepals, fused into tepals, normally six, appearing as two sets of three.

corrugated
(see seersuckering.)

crown
the base of a plant where the roots and shoots join.

cultivar
contraction for “cultivated variety”; a plant that is clearly distinguished by identical physical characteristics and maintains these characteristics through proper propagation means.

cupped
leaf blade having the center of the leaf lower than the margins; concave.

dimples
a slight form of seersuckering.

division
(in Hosta) a single shoot with roots attached.

drawstring effect
the leaf distortion caused during the expansion of the interior of a leaf blade with a correspondingly lesser expansion of the margin tissue, usually resulting from a narrow white margin and green or gold center; i.e. H. ‘Lunar Eclipse’.

dwarf
(see table.)

emerged
having shoots above the ground. eye - an undeveloped or dormant shoot; dormant bud.

fasciated
a flattening of the flower stem, most frequently at the top, giving the appearance of several scapes

fused
together side by side.

fertilization
1. application of nutrients. 2. union of egg and sperm.

filament
the long thin part of the stamen; male flower part that holds the anther.

flower stem
the main stem of the inflorescence.

folded
bent upward parallel to midrib, keelshaped.

furled
(in Hosta) having leaves with edges or sides curled in to the midrib; i.e., H. ‘Stetson’.

genotype
the genetic make-up of a plant.

genus
taxonomic division of related species below family.

glabrous
smooth hairless leaf texture.

glaucous
having a waxy coating (or bloom) producing a white to blue coloring over the plant parts.

heart-shaped
shaped like a valentine heart; cordate.

hybrid
a seedling from two distinct genotypes.

inflorescence
the flowering part of a hosta including the raceme, peduncle, pedicel and flower.

inflorescence leaves
(in Hosta) the larger, occasionally flat, leaf-like structures on the flower stem.

jetting
(in Hosta) having a margin variegation that is not uniform, but irregularly extends into or toward the center of the leaf; i.e. H. montana 'Aureomarginata', H. montana'Choko Nishiki'.

juvenile
(in Hosta) pre-adult stage usually exemplified by more pointed, narrower leaves, fewer vein pairs, thinner marginal variegation, faster growth rate, and often smaller leaves and clump size.