AERIAL ROOTS - A type of root produced above or away from the growing media. ANTHER - The part of the stamen that contains the pollen; located at the top of the column. BACKBULB - An old pseudobulb, often without leaves but still alive and bearing live eyes, behind the actively growing portion of a sympodial orchid. BASKET - A container for growing orchids, usually made of interlocked strips of wood. They offer maximum drainage and aeration of the growing media. BIFOLIATE - Having two leaves. When used in reference to cattleyas it includes plants with two or more leaves. BIGENERIC - A hybrid involving two different genera in the parentage. CALLUS - A hard thickening or protruberence. CHLOROPHYLL - The green pigment in plants which is essential to the production of food. CHROMOSOME - Any of the microscopic rod-shaped bodies bearing genes. CLONE - An individual plant and all of its vegetative divisions. COLUMN - The organ of an orchid flower that is made up of both the male (anther) and female (style) reproductive parts. COMPOST - A term commonly (but incorrectly) applied to any type of potting media for orchids. CREST - A toothed, fringed, hairy adornment, or callus growth on the lip of some orchid flowers. CROCK - Small pieces of broken pottery or Styrofoam "peanuts" placed in the bottom of a pot that aid in drainage. CROSS - The mating of two different orchid clones, whether varieties, species, hybrids. CROWN - The point where leaves grow from on monopodial orchids. Usually the V shaped area in the center of the plant. CULTIVAR - An individual plant and all of its vegetative divisions; a horticultural variety. DORSAL - Refers to the top side of a flower. EPIPHYTE - A plant which grows perched upon another plant but DOES NOT derive its nourishment from it. EYE - A live point from which a new growth can emerge. FIR BARK - A potting media. Chopped or ground bark of the White, Red, or Douglas Fir. GENE - The units in the chromosomes by which hereditary characteristics are transmitted. GENUS - [pl. GENERA] - A natural grouping of closely related but distinct species. GROWTH - An individual pseudobulb. GREX - A flock or group, applied collectively to the progeny of a given cross. HABIT - The general appearance of a plant (whether it's erect, pendant, climbing, weedy, etc ) HABITAT - The environment in which a plant normally grows. HAPUU - A potting media. Hawaiian tree fern fiber. HYBRID - The offspring of the 2 different plants. INFLORESCENCE - The flower stem with its flowers and buds. INTERGENERIC - The offspring of the crossing of two plants of different genera. KEIKI - Hawaiian word for baby, applied to an offset from an orchid plant (Especially Dendrobiums and Phalaenopsis). LABELLUM - A modified petal, usually quite distinct from the other two petals; the median petal; the lip. LEAF SPAN - The size of a plant, measured from leaf tip to center of crown to other leaf tip. Used on phalaenopsis, paphiopedilums and other monopodial orchids. LIP - A modified petal, usually quite distinct from the other two petals; the median petal; the labellum. MONOFOLIATE - Having 1 leaf. Often used in reference to cattleyas. MONOPODIAL - The form of growth in which there is a single stem that continues to grow from the apex indefinitely. NOVELTY - A recent introduction, A seedling or a sport, possessing unexpected but desirable qualities. OSMUNDA - A potting media. Chopped roots of Osmunda fern. OVARY - The part of the flower which develops into the fruit. PANICLE - An inflorescence with a main stem and branches. PEANUTS- Peanut shaped Styrofoam packing material. PERLITE - A potting media. Expanded volcanic rock. PETAL - One of the three inner segments which isn't modified to form a lip. PHOTOSYNTHESIS - The process by which plants convert water and CO2 into sugar using sunlight as an energy source. PISTIL - The ovule (seed) bearing organ of a flower (including, when complete, the ovary, style, and stigma). POLLINIUM - [pl POLLINIA] - The coherent mass of pollen grains found in the anther. POLYPLOID - A term applied to a plant which possesses one or more extra sets of chromosomes beyond the normal number for that plant. POUCH - Replaces the lip in Paphiopedilum alliance plants, it's actually two petals that have fused. PSEUDOBULB - A thickened portion of the stem (usually aerial) of many orchids. RACEME - An unbranched inflorescence of stalked flowers. RHIZOME - A root bearing, horizontal stem which progressively sends up leafy shoots. SCAPE - An inflorescence that arises from the base of the pseudobulb. SEMI-ALBA - A term applied to a white with colored lip. SEPAL - One of the three outer segments of the flower. SHEATH - A leaf-like structure that enfolds a stem, pseudobulb, or young inflorescence. SPECIES - [sing & pl] - A natural grouping of individuals which have constant and distinctive characteristics. SPIKE - Commonly used to refer to a plant that's producing an inflorescence, i.e. In spike. An unbranched, upright flower stem bearing a number of short-stalked flowers. SPRAY - An arching, multi- flowered flower stem which may or may not branch. STAMEN - The pollen bearing organ of a flower. STIGMA - The part of the pistil which receives the pollen. STYLE - The slender part of the pistil, which connects the ovary with the stigma SUBSTANCE - The thickness and firmness of tissue in flowers. SYMPODIAL - A form of growth in which each new shoot, arising from the base of the previous growth, is complete in itself and terminates in a potential inflorescence. TERRESTRIAL - Growing on the ground, either in soil or leaf litter. TEXTURE - The features of a flowers surface which enhance appearance sparkly, velvety, etc). THROAT - The tubular portion of the lip, as in Cattleya TREE FERN - A potting media. Chopped trunks of tropical ferns (primarily Cyatheaceae family). VELAMEN - The thick corky layer of cells covering the roots of epiphytic orchids.