Plants, WAT-ZYG

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

water shield
water shield, (Brasenia schreberi), small purple-flowered aquatic plant of the fanwort family (Cabombaceae), found......
watercress
watercress, (Nasturtium officinale), perennial aquatic plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to Eurasia......
waterleaf
waterleaf, any of about eight species of herbaceous plants constituting a genus (Hydrophyllum) in the borage family......
watermelon
watermelon, (Citrullus lanatus), succulent fruit and vinelike plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native......
wax gourd
wax gourd, (Benincasa hispida), fleshy vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), grown for its edible fruits. The......
waxplant
waxplant, (genus Hoya), genus of more than 200 species of perennial plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae).......
weed
weed, general term for any plant growing where it is not wanted. Ever since humans first attempted the cultivation......
Weigela
Weigela, genus with about 10 species of East Asian flowering shrubs belonging to the family Diervillaceae, some......
Welwitschiaceae
Welwitschiaceae, family of gymnosperm plants in the order Gnetales. The only extant genus, Welwitschia, comprises......
Went, F. A. F. C.
F.A.F.C. Went Dutch botanist who initiated the study of plant hormones and advanced the study of botany in the......
Western Australian pitcher plant
Western Australian pitcher plant, (Cephalotus follicularis), carnivorous plant, native to damp sandy or swampy......
Western red cedar
Western red cedar, (Thuja plicata), an ornamental and timber evergreenconifer of the cypress family (Cupressaceae),......
wheat
wheat, any of several species of cereal grasses of the genus Triticum (family Poaceae) and their edible grains.......
wheatgrass
wheatgrass, (genus Agropyron), genus of wheatlike grasses in the family Poaceae, found throughout the North Temperate......
whisk fern
whisk fern, either of the two species of the primitive fern genus Psilotum in the family Psilotaceae of the order......
white birch
white birch, any of several species of ornamental and timber trees of the genus Betula in the family Betulaceae.......
white mustard
white mustard, (Sinapis alba), annual herbaceous plant of the family Brassicaceae grown primarily for its pungent......
white oak
white oak, any member of a group or subgenus (Leucobalanus) of North American ornamental and timber shrubs and......
white snakeroot
white snakeroot, (Ageratina altissima), poisonous North American herb of the aster family (Asteraceae). White snakeroot......
whitlow grass
whitlow grass, (genus Draba), genus of more than 300 species of plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). They......
wild cashew
wild cashew, (Anacardium excelsum), tropical forest tree of the cashew family (Anacardiaceae), native to Central......
wild cucumber
wild cucumber, (species Echinocystis lobata), climbing plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to eastern......
wild ginger
wild ginger, any of about 75 species of the genus Asarum, perennial herbs of the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae),......
wild mango
wild mango, (genus Irvingia), genus of several species of tropical African trees of the family Irvingiaceae. Dika......
wild oat
wild oat, (genus Avena), genus of tufted annual grasses of the family Poaceae, native to Eurasia and Africa. Wild......
wild radish
wild radish, (Raphanus raphanistrum), widespread annual plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to Eurasia.......
wild rice
wild rice, (genus Zizania), genus of four species of coarse grasses of the family Poaceae, the grain of which is......
wild rye
wild rye, (genus Elymus), genus of some 50–100 species of perennial grasses in the family Poaceae, native to temperate......
wildflower
wildflower, any flowering plant that has not been genetically manipulated. Generally the term applies to plants......
willow
willow, shrubs and trees of the genus Salix, family Salicaceae, mostly native to north temperate areas and valued......
willow oak
willow oak, (Quercus phellos), ornamental and timber tree in the beech family (Fagaceae), noted for its willowlike......
wind-blown moss
wind-blown moss, any plant of the genus Dicranum (subclass Bryidae), numbering 94 species distributed primarily......
windmill grass
windmill grass, (genus Chloris), genus of about 55 species of annual and perennial grasses of the family Poaceae,......
winter aconite
winter aconite, (genus Eranthis), genus of about seven species of perennial herbaceous plants of the buttercup......
winter cress
winter cress, (genus Barbarea), genus of about 20 species of weedy herbs of the mustard family (Brassicaceae),......
winter hazel
winter hazel, any of about 10 species of the genus Corylopsis, deciduous shrubs or small trees of the witch hazel......
Winteraceae
Winteraceae, family of aromatic trees and shrubs in the order Canellales, containing 9 genera and 120 species.......
wintergreen
wintergreen, any of several evergreen, aromatic plants of the heath family (Ericaceae). Oil of wintergreen, derived......
wisteria
wisteria, (genus Wisteria), genus of 8–10 species of twining, usually woody vines of the pea family (Fabaceae).......
witch hazel
witch hazel, (genus Hamamelis), any of five species of the genus Hamamelis (family Hamamelidaceae), all of which......
witchweed
witchweed, (genus Striga), genus of about 30 species of parasitic plants in the family Orobanchaceae, most of which......
woad
woad, (Isatis tinctoria), biennial or perennial herb in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), formerly grown as a......
Wollemi pine
Wollemi pine, (Wollemia nobilis), rare evergreen tree, a member of the conifer family Araucariaceae and the only......
wood sorrel
wood sorrel, any of several flowering plants of the genus Oxalis (family Oxalidaceae). The common wood sorrel (O.......
woodruff
woodruff, any of various species of plants of a genus (Asperula) belonging to the madder family, Rubiaceae. The......
Woodsiaceae
Woodsiaceae, the cliff fern family, containing 15 genera and about 700 species, in the division Pteridophyta. Members......
wormwood
wormwood, any of several species of bitter or aromatic herbs or shrubs of the genus Artemisia of the aster family......
xerophyte
xerophyte, any plant adapted to life in a dry or physiologically dry habitat (salt marsh, saline soil, or acid......
yam
yam, any of several plant species of the genus Dioscorea (family Dioscoreaceae) grown for their edible tubers.......
yarrow
yarrow, any of about 115 species of perennial herbs constituting the genus Achillea in the family Asteraceae, and......
yellow birch
yellow birch, (Betula alleghaniensis), ornamental and timber tree of the family Betulaceae, native to northeastern......
yellow cress
yellow cress, (genus Rorippa), genus of some 85 species of plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Most members......
yellow-flowered gourd
yellow-flowered gourd, (subspecies Cucurbita pepo ovifera), annual trailing vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae),......
yellowwood
yellowwood, any of about 100 species of coniferous evergreen timber trees and shrubs constituting the conifer genus......
yew
yew, any tree or shrub of the genus Taxus (family Taxaceae), approximately eight species of ornamental evergreens,......
ylang-ylang
ylang-ylang, (Cananga odorata), South Asian tree of the custard apple family (Annonaceae), known for its intensely......
yucca
yucca, (genus Yucca), genus of about 40 species of succulent plants in the agave subfamily of the asparagus family......
yuzu
yuzu, East Asian citrus fruit, probably first grown in the highlands of China but now most closely associated with......
Zamia
Zamia, genus of 55 species of cycads in the family Zamiaceae, native to tropical and subtropical America. Zamia......
Zea
Zea, genus of five species of large grasses of the family Poaceae, native to Mexico and Mesoamerica. The best-known......
Zebrina
Zebrina, former genus of trailing herbaceous plants in the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae), now placed within......
Zelkova
Zelkova, genus of about five species of trees and shrubs in the elm family (Ulmaceae) native to Asia. The Japanese......
Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae, the ginger family of flowering plants, the largest family of the order Zingiberales, containing......
Zingiberales
Zingiberales, the ginger and banana order of flowering plants, consisting of 8 families, 92 genera, and more than......
zinnia
zinnia, (genus Zinnia), any of about 22 species of herbs and shrubs constituting the genus Zinnia of the family......
zoysiagrass
zoysiagrass, (genus Zoysia), genus of creeping grasses of the family Poaceae, comprising four or five perennial......
zucchini
zucchini, (Cucurbita pepo), variety of summer squash in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), grown for its edible......
Zygopetalum
Zygopetalum, genus of 15 species of tropical American orchids (family Orchidaceae). Several species are cultivated......
Zygophyllales
Zygophyllales, the creosote bush order of dicotyledonous flowering plants, consisting of 2 families (Zygophyllaceae......

Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title