Plants, THE-WAT

Life on Earth owes much to plants. The vast majority of plants carry out photosynthesis to transform light energy into chemical energy, which is the way that virtually all energy in the biosphere becomes available to living things (including us humans). Plants occupy the base of Earth's food webs and are consumed directly or indirectly by all higher life-forms, thereby functioning as the major source of food for humans and other animals. Plants' photosynthetic activity also produces the air that we breathe: almost all the oxygen in the atmosphere is due to the process of photosynthesis. Still not convinced about the merits of plants? Consider the fact that many plants not only serve up crucial nutrients and breathable air but also look good doing it. Many plants are admired for their striking aesthetic qualities, and flowers such as tulips, lilies, sunflowers, and daisies beautify fields, gardens, windowsills, and bouquets the world over. Plants are also a primary source of consumer goods, such as building materials, textile fibers, and pharmaceuticals.
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Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title

Thelypteridaceae
Thelypteridaceae, a family of ferns, containing about 950 species in 5–30 genera, in the division Pteridophyta.......
Thimann, Kenneth V.
Kenneth V. Thimann was an English-born American plant physiologist who isolated auxin, an important plant growth......
thistle
thistle, weedy species of Cirsium, Carduus, Echinops, Sonchus, and other plant genera of the family Asteraceae.......
thyme
thyme, (Thymus vulgaris), pungent herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae) known for the aroma and flavour of its dried......
ti
ti, (genus Cordyline), genus of tropical trees and shrubs in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to Asia,......
tickseed
tickseed, any ornamental summer-blooming plant of the genus Coreopsis of the family Asteraceae, consisting of about......
tiger-flower
tiger-flower, (genus Tigridia), genus of about 35 species of flowering plants of the iris family (Iridaceae) native......
Tillandsia
Tillandsia, the most widely distributed genus of the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae), containing about 500 species......
timothy
timothy, (Phleum pratense), perennial grass of the family Poaceae. Timothy is native to most of mainland Europe......
titan arum
titan arum, (Amorphophallus titanum), herbaceous flowering plant of the arum family (Araceae), known for its massive......
toadflax
toadflax, (genus Linaria), genus of nearly 200 herbaceous flowering plants in the family Plantaginaceae native......
tobacco
tobacco, common name of the plant Nicotiana tabacum and, to a limited extent, Aztec tobacco (N. rustica) and the......
tomatillo
tomatillo, (Physalis philadelphica), annual species of ground cherry of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and......
tomato
tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum), flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), cultivated extensively for......
top moss
top moss, (Physcomitrium pyriforme), a common species of urn moss formerly known as P. turbinatum. The common name......
topiary
topiary, the training of living trees and shrubs into artificial, decorative shapes. Thickly leaved evergreen shrubs......
torch cactus
torch cactus, any of several ribbed cylindrical cacti (family Cactaceae) native to South America. Many are cultivated......
torchwood
torchwood, (genus Amyris), genus comprising 40 species of large shrubs or trees of the citrus family (Rutaceae)......
Torrey, John
John Torrey was a botanist and chemist known for his extensive studies of North American flora. Torrey was educated......
Torreya
Torreya, a genus of approximately six species of ornamental trees and shrubs in the yew family (Taxaceae), distributed......
tossa jute
tossa jute, (Corchorus olitorius), annual herbaceous plant in the mallow family (Malvaceae), cultivated as a source......
Tournefort, Joseph Pitton de
Joseph Pitton de Tournefort was a French botanist and physician, a pioneer in systematic botany, whose system of......
trailing arbutus
trailing arbutus, (Epigaea repens), trailing plant of the heath family (Ericaceae), native to sandy or boggy, acid......
traveler’s tree
traveler’s tree, (Ravenala madagascariensis), plant of the family Strelitziaceae, so named because the water it......
tree fern
tree fern, any of a group of relatively primitive ferns in the order Cyatheales, most of them characterized by......
tree mallow
tree mallow, (Lavatera arborea), biennial, herbaceous plant, of the hibiscus, or mallow, family (Malvaceae), native......
tree moss
tree moss, any of the plants of the genus Climacium (order Bryales), which resemble small evergreen trees and are......
tree of heaven
tree of heaven, (Ailanthus altissima), rapid-growing tree, in the family Simaroubaceae, native to China but widely......
tree poppy
tree poppy, (Dendromecon rigida), shrub or small tree of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to chaparral areas......
Trepospira
Trepospira, extinct genus of gastropods (snails) found as fossils in rocks of Devonian to Late Carboniferous age......
trillium
trillium, (genus Trillium), genus of about 25 species of spring-flowering perennial herbs of the family Melanthiaceae,......
triticale
triticale, wheat-rye hybrid that has a high yield and rich protein content. The first cross was reported in 1875......
Trochodendrales
Trochodendrales, a small order of dicotyledonous flowering plants comprising just one family (Trochodendraceae)......
tropism
tropism, response or orientation of a plant or certain lower animals to a stimulus that acts with greater intensity......
trumpet creeper
trumpet creeper, either of two species of ornamental vines of the genus Campsis (family Bignoniaceae, q.v.). Both......
Tschermak von Seysenegg, Erich
Erich Tschermak von Seysenegg was an Austrian botanist, one of the co-discoverers of Gregor Mendel’s classic papers......
tuberose
tuberose, (Polianthes tuberosa), perennial garden plant of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), cultivated for......
tuftybell
tuftybell, any of about 260 species of annual and perennial herbs of the genus Wahlenbergia, of the bellflower......
tulip
tulip, (genus Tulipa), genus of about 100 species of bulbous herbs in the lily family (Liliaceae), native to Central......
tulip tree
tulip tree, (Liriodendron tulipifera), North American ornamental and timber tree of the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae),......
tumbleweed
tumbleweed, plant that breaks away from its roots and is driven about by the wind as a light rolling mass, scattering......
tumboa
welwitschia, (Welwitschia mirabilis), unusual gymnosperm plant that is the sole member of the gnetophyte family......
tung tree
tung tree, (Aleurites fordii), small Asian tree of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), commercially valuable for......
tupelo
tupelo, (genus Nyssa), genus of about nine species of trees belonging to the sour gum family (Nyssaceae). Five......
Turbina
Turbina, a genus of some 15 species of plants, native in tropical America and Southeast Asia, belonging to the......
turmeric
turmeric, (Curcuma longa), perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), the tuberous rhizomes,......
turnip
turnip, (Brassica rapa, variety rapa), hardy biennial plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), cultivated for......
twayblade
twayblade, any of the orchids of the genera Liparis and Neottia (family Orchidaceae). The common name derives from......
twinflower
twinflower, (Linnaea borealis), evergreen, creeping shrub of the family Caprifoliaceae, native to moist pinelands......
Ulmaceae
Ulmaceae, the elm family (order Rosales), with 6–7 genera of about 45 species of trees and shrubs, distributed......
umbrella pine
umbrella pine, (Sciadopitys verticillata), coniferous evergreen tree endemic to Japan, the only member of the umbrella......
umbrella plant
umbrella plant, any of several unrelated but similarly leaved plants. Cyperus alternifolius (family Cyperaceae),......
unicorn plant
unicorn plant, any North American herb of the family Martyniaceae of the flowering plant order Lamiales, and particularly......
United States National Arboretum
United States National Arboretum, arboretum in Washington, D.C., operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s......
urena
urena, (Urena lobata), plant of the family Malvaceae; its fibre is one of the bast fibre group. The plant, probably......
urn moss
urn moss, any plant of the genus Physcomitrium (subclass Bryidae), characterized by urn-shaped or top-shaped capsules......
Urticaceae
Urticaceae, the nettle family (order Rosales) comprising about 54 genera and 2,625 species of herbs, shrubs, small......
Vaccinium
Vaccinium, genus of about 450 species of shrubs, in the heath family (Ericaceae), found widely throughout the Northern......
Valerianoideae
Valerianoideae, the valerian subfamily of the family Caprifoliaceae (order Dipsacales), containing about 7 genera......
Vanda
Vanda, genus of about 50 species of colourful orchids (family Orchidaceae) distributed from East Asia to Australia.......
vanilla
vanilla, (genus Vanilla), any member of a group of tropical climbing orchids (family Orchidaceae) and the flavouring......
varnish tree
varnish tree, any of various trees whose milky juice is used to make a varnish or lacquer. The term is applied......
vascular plant
vascular plant, any of some 260,000 species of plants with vascular systems, including all of the conspicuous flora......
vascular system
vascular system, in vascular plants, assemblage of conducting tissues and associated supportive fibres that transport......
Vavilov, Nikolai
Nikolai Vavilov was a Soviet plant geneticist whose research into the origins of cultivated plants incurred the......
vegetable
vegetable, in the broadest sense, any kind of plant life or plant product, namely “vegetable matter”; in common,......
velvet grass
velvet grass, (Holcus lanatus), perennial grass in the family Poaceae, native to Europe and Africa. Velvet grass,......
velvetleaf
velvetleaf, (Abutilon theophrasti), annual hairy plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae) native to southern Asia.......
Venus flytrap
Venus flytrap, (Dionaea muscipula), perennial carnivorous plant of the sundew family (Droseraceae), notable for......
Venus’s looking glass
Venus’s looking glass, (Legousia, or Specularia, speculum-veneris), species of annual herb of the bellflower family......
Veratrum
Veratrum, genus of poisonous herbs of the family Melanthiaceae. The genus includes about 25 to 30 perennial species,......
verbena
verbena, any of several flowering plants of the genera Verbena and Glandularia in the family Verbenaceae, the majority......
Verbenaceae
Verbenaceae, family of plants, in the order Lamiales, a worldwide but mainly tropical grouping of 30 genera and......
vetch
vetch, (genus Vicia), genus of about 140 species of herbaceous plants in the pea family (Fabaceae). The fava bean......
vetiver
vetiver, (Chrysopogon zizanioides), perennial grass of the family Poaceae, the roots of which contain an oil used......
viburnum
viburnum, (genus Viburnum), any of about 175 shrubs and small trees belonging to the family Adoxaceae, native to......
vine
vine, Plant whose stem requires support and that climbs by tendrils or twining or creeps along the ground, or the......
viola
viola, (genus Viola), genus of about 500 species of herbs or low shrubs in the family Violaceae, including the......
Virginia creeper
Virginia creeper, (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), woody vine in the grape family (Vitaceae). It is commonly found......
Viscaceae
Viscaceae, one of the mistletoe families of flowering plants of the sandalwood order (Santalales), including about......
Vitaceae
Vitaceae, the grape family of flowering plants, in the buckthorn order (Rhamnales), comprising 12 genera of woody......
Vitales
Vitales, grape order of flowering plants, a basal member in the rosid group of the core eudicots in the Angiosperm......
Voltzia
Voltzia, a genus of fossil cone-bearing plants dating to the Early Triassic epoch (beginning 251 million years......
Vriesea
Vriesea, genus of epiphytes (plants that are supported by another plant and have aerial roots exposed to the humid......
walking fern
walking fern, fern that is a member either of the species Asplenium rhizophyllum, of eastern North America, or......
wallflower
wallflower, (genus Erysimum), genus of about 180 species of plants belonging to the mustard family (Brassicaceae),......
walnut
walnut, (genus Juglans), genus of about 20 species of deciduous trees of the family Juglandaceae, native to North......
Warming, Johannes Eugenius Bülow
Johannes Eugenius Bülow Warming Danish botanist whose work on the relations between living plants and their surroundings......
wasabi
wasabi, (Eutrema japonicum), plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) and a pungent paste made of its ground......
water chestnut
water chestnut, any of several species of water plants that are cultivated for their edible parts. Water chestnuts......
water fern
water fern, (genus Ceratopteris), small genus of aquatic ferns (family Pteridaceae). Ceratopteris consists of at......
water hemlock
water hemlock, (genus Cicuta), genus of four species of poisonous plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae), common......
water hyacinth
water hyacinth, any aquatic plant of the genus Eichhornia of the pickerelweed family (Pontederiaceae), consisting......
water lily
water lily, (family Nymphaeaceae), family of about 60 species in 4 genera of freshwater flowering plants (order......
water milfoil
water milfoil, (genus Myriophyllum), genus of about 45 widely distributed species of submerged freshwater flowering......
water moss
water moss, (Fontinalis), genus of mosses belonging to the subclass Bryidae, often found in flowing freshwater......
water oak
water oak, (Quercus nigra), ornamental tree of the beech family (Fagaceae), native to the southeastern coastal......
water parsnip
water parsnip, any of several aromatic herbs of the genus Sium, especially S. latifolium, belonging to the parsley......
water plantain
water plantain, (genus Alisma), any freshwater perennial herb of the genus Alisma (family Alismataceae), commonly......

Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title