When reading about plants, and in particular, Hostas, you will see the odd word that you may not have seen before. You think, “why can’t they use a proper word”?
When describing various traits of plants, the ‘professionals’ need to know exactly what they are describing. They all need to sing from the same hymn sheet. The meaning of some of these words are obvious, others aren’t. We will try and pick some of the more used bits of terminology and explain in a little more detail exactly what is being described.
Here are a few to be going on with….
Glossary of Hosta Terms
BLOOM TIME - The time from first opening to the flower going over. Usually when the Hosta starts to go to seed. This is how long it is in flower.
CROWN - The base of a plant where the roots and shoots join. This is where all the shoots come from. This can be seen clearly when dormant.
CULTIVAR - Contraction word for "cultivated variety"; a plant that is clearly distinguished by identical physical characteristics and maintains these characteristics through clonal propagation. Also known as Variety. eg Empress Wu.
CUPPED - Leaf blade having the centre of the leaf lower than the margin, concave.
DIVISION (in Hosta) - A shoot with roots attached.
FLOWER STEM also known as the Scape. - The main stem of the inflorescence. The stem that holds the flower aloft.
GENUS - Taxonomic division of related species below family. Eg Hosta.
GLABROUS - Smooth hairless leaf texture.
GLAUCOUS - A crystalline waxy coating (or bloom) with an airy structure producing a white to blue colouring over the plant parts.
HEART-SHAPED see CORDATE. - having an acute leaf point or apex, and a flat to cordate leaf base; shaped like a valentine heart.
HYBRID - Seedling from two distinct genetically different parents. Often creating a new variety.
JETTING - Having margin variegation, not uniform: irregularly extends into or toward leaf centre. Often seen on leaves with three colours.
LANCE-SHAPED - Having narrow pointed leaf tip, and leaf blade width less than one half the length of the blade.
LUTESCENT - Possessing leaves which begin the season darker and become lighter or more yellow as the season progresses, not the result of bleaching due to poor nutrition or too much sun.
MATURE - A plant with general characteristics that do not change with continued aging. Usually several years old.
MEDIO-VARIEGATED - Leaf or leaves having a lighter centre than the margin colour.
OPEN POLLINATION - Pollination without human assistance, i.e., by insects or wind.
OVATE - Leaves are generally egg-shaped.
PETIOLE - Leaf stalk. The stem that holds aloft the leaves. (not the flower stalk)
PHOTOSYNTHESIS - Process in chloroplasts containing chlorophyll that creates carbohydrates using light energy, water and carbon dioxide. The food of plants.
POD - Developed ovary or fruit containing seeds.
REVERT - Change of variegated sport back to its original solid coloured parent.
RUGOSE - Wrinkled: a gathering of leaf between veins giving leaf bubbled, dimpled, puckered, seer suckered, crinkled, or corrugated effect.
SCAPE - A flower stem that comes directly from ground level and bears no leaves. Used to refer to the flower stems of Hostas which, though they may bear bracts, are without leaves.
SHOOT - The stem and set of leaves of an individual division; the dormant set of leaves all enclosed in a single set of leaf scales.
SPECIES - Taxonomic division (rank) of freely interbreeding populations of wild or naturally occurring individuals below rank of genus, but above the rank of variety.
SPORT - A Gardener’s term for mutation
STREAKED - Having irregular leaf colour of differently coloured stripes ranging from short dashes to long striations spanning the leaf length.
SUBSTANCE - Characteristic of leaf comprising thickness, density and rigidity. Often associated with slug resistance.
TISSUE CULTURE - Growing plant fragments within nutrient medium to create clones of original plant. Usually only done by experts.
VARIEGATED - Leaf having more than one colour due to a difference in pigment components.
WHITE-BACKED - Having a glaucous underside.
There are many more terms not mentioned in this blog, some these can be found on our website at https://www.rewelahostas.com/glossary-of-hosta-terms
As they say everyday is a school day !
To learn more about Hostas, you may interested in reading : Grow and Maintain Hostas In Containers, Benefits of Companion Plants, What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Hostas?, Ways to Protect Your Hostas from Slugs and Snails and "Uncovering the Advantages of Bare Root Hostas:
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John Plant
Rewela Hostas
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