Midweek bonus 6: a botanical family quiz

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I decided to revive the lockdown-era midweek bonus again for a bit of fun - I ask my family to decide which of these botanical terms are real, and which ones I have made up…

Want to play along? Read the list below and note down whether you think each term is a real piece of botanical speak, or a total fake, then scroll down for the answers!

  1. CLADODE

  2. SNOOPENT

  3. SESSILE

  4. PROPAGULE

  5. ADAXIAL

  6. NOMEN NUDUM

  7. PLONKTATE

  8. CAUDICIFORM

  9. PUMMICLE

  10. STIGMA

  11. FLOCCOSE

  12. AGAMOSPERMY

  13. SNAPULIX

  14. FERVONOUS

AND NOW FOR THE ANSWERS…

  1. CLADODE - a flattened stem that functions like a leaf, as you’ll see on Easter and Christmas cacti.

  2. SNOOPENT - FAKE!

  3. SESSILE - REAL! A leaf or flower that lacks a stalk

  4. PROPAGULE - REAL! A unit of propagation such as a seed or cutting.

  5. ADAXIAL - REAL! The upper surface of a leaf.

  6. NOMEN NUDUM - REAL! Literally ‘naked name’, meaning a name that is not accepted by the taxonomists.

  7. PLONKTATE - FAKE!

  8. CAUDICIFORM - REAL! A plant with a base that is a fattened stem, trunk or above ground root.

  9. PUMMICLE - FAKE!

  10. STIGMA - REAL! The part of the flower that receives pollen when the plant is pollinated.

  11. FLOCCOSE - REAL! A plant with woolly tufts all over it.

  12. AGAMOSPERMY - REAL! When a plant reproduces vegetatively from unfertilised seeds.

  13. SNAPULIX - FAKE!

  14. FERVONOUS - FAKE!


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CREDITS

This week's show featured the tracks Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops, An Instrument the Boy Called Happy Day, Gokarna by Samuel Corwin and  Oh Mallory by Josh Woodward.