Plants, SAN-SPH
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.
Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title
sandbur, (genus Cenchrus), genus of about 20 to 25 species of grasses in the family Poaceae. Sandburs are native......
Sanmiguelia, genus of fossil plants based upon impressions of palmlike leaves from the Triassic Period (251 to......
Sansevieria, former genus of about 70 species of flowering plants in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), now placed......
Santalaceae, the sandalwood family (order Santalales), which includes about 44 genera and more than 1,000 species......
Santalales, the sandalwood order of flowering plants, consisting of 7 or 14 families, 151 genera, and about 1,990......
sap, watery fluid of plants. Cell sap is a fluid found in the vacuoles (small cavities) of the living cell; it......
Sapindaceae, the soapberry family of flowering plants (order Sapindales), comprising about 145 genera and some......
Sapindales, order of dicotyledonous flowering plants, containing 9 families, about 460 genera, and some 5,700 species......
sapodilla, (Manilkara zapota), tropical evergreen tree (family Sapotaceae) and its distinctive fruit, native to......
sapote, (Pouteria sapota), plant of the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae) and its edible fruit. Sapote is native to......
sapwood, outer, living layers of the secondary wood of trees, which engage in transport of water and minerals to......
Sarraceniaceae, family of carnivorous pitcher plants in the order Ericales, native to North and South America.......
sassafras, (Sassafras albidum), North American tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae), the aromatic leaf, bark,......
satinwood, (Chloroxylon swietenia), tree of the rue family (Rutaceae), native to Southeast Asia, India, and Sri......
sausage tree, (Kigelia africana), tropical tree, the only species of its genus (family Bignoniaceae). It grows......
savory, (genus Satureja), genus of about 30 species of aromatic herbs of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Savory is......
saw palmetto, Any of several shrubby palms chiefly of the southern U.S. and West Indies that have spiny-toothed......
Saxifragaceae, the saxifrage family of flowering plants (order Rosales), comprising 36 genera and about 600 species......
Saxifragales, the saxifrage order of dicotyledonous flowering plants, consisting of 15 families, 112 genera, and......
saxifrage, (genus Saxifraga), any of a genus of flowering plants, of the family Saxifragaceae, native in temperate,......
scabious, (genus Scabiosa), genus of about 30 species of annual and perennial herbs of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae).......
schefflera, any of several tropical evergreen trees or shrubs, in the ginseng family (Araliaceae), that are widely......
Schisandraceae, family of three genera and some 90 species of flowering plants of the primitive order Austrobaileyales.......
Schizaeaceae, fern family (order Filicales), which contains two genera (Schizaea and Actinostachys) and about 46......
Matthias Jakob Schleiden German botanist, cofounder (with Theodor Schwann) of the cell theory. Schleiden was educated......
Schlumbergera, genus of six species of spineless cacti (family Cactaceae) native to rainforests in Brazil. The......
sclerophyll, type of vegetation characterized by hard, leathery, evergreen foliage that is specially adapted to......
Dunkinfield Henry Scott English paleobotanist and leading authority of his time on the structure of fossil plants.......
screw moss, any member of the moss genus Tortula (subclass Bryidae), which form yellow-green or reddish brown cushions......
Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family of flowering plants, one of 26 in the order Lamiales, containing about 65......
scrub oak, any of several small shrubby trees of the genus Quercus, in the beech family (Fagaceae), native to dry......
sea buckthorn, (Hippophae rhamnoides, family Elaeagnaceae), willowlike shrub growing to about 2.5 m (about 8 feet)......
sea kale, (Crambe maritima), perennial plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Native to seashores and cliffs......
sea lavender, (genus Limonium), genus of about 300 species of chiefly perennial herbaceous plants of the family......
sea rocket, (genus Cakile), genus of about seven species of plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Sea rockets......
sea-urchin cactus, (genus Echinopsis), large genus of more than 100 species of cacti (family Cactaceae). Sea-urchin......
seed fern, loose confederation of seed plants from the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about 360 to 250 million......
seed plant, any of the more than 300,000 species of seed-bearing vascular plants. Although the taxonomic division......
self-heal, (genus Prunella), genus of 13 species of low-growing perennials in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native......
senna, any of several species of usually yellow-flowered trees or shrubs, especially of the genera Cassia and Senna,......
sensitive plant, (Mimosa pudica), plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) that responds to touch and other stimulation......
sepal, any of the outer parts of a flower that enclose and protect the unopened flower bud. The sepals on a flower......
Sequoia, genus of conifers of the bald cypress family (Taxodiaceae), comprising one species, Sequoia sempervirens......
Serapias, genus of orchids (family Orchidaceae) containing about 25 species native to the Mediterranean region......
serviceberry, (genus Amelanchier), genus of some 20 species of flowering shrubs and small trees of the rose family......
sesame, (Sesamum indicum), erect annual plant of the family Pedaliaceae, grown since antiquity for its seeds, which......
shallot, (Allium cepa, variety aggregatum), mildly aromatic plant of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), grown......
shamrock, any of several similar-appearing trifoliate plants—i.e., plants whose leaves are each divided into three......
sheep’s bit, (Jasione montana), annual to biennial herb of the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), bearing clustered......
sheet moss, (Hypnum curvifolium), a species of carpet moss (family Hypnaceae). The names sheet moss and carpet......
shellflower, any of about 250 species of plants in the genus Alpinia of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), native......
shepherd’s purse, (Capsella bursa-pastoris), plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Native to the Mediterranean......
shield fern, any of about 250 species of the fern genus Dryopteris, in the family Dryopteridaceae, with worldwide......
shooting star, in botany, any of several species of flowering plants formerly of the genus Dodecatheon and now......
Shorea, genus of plants in the family Dipterocarpaceae, comprising about 360 species of tall South Asian evergreen......
shrimp plant, (Justicia brandegeeana), popular border and greenhouse ornamental of the family Acanthaceae, native......
shrub, any woody plant that has several stems, none dominant, and is usually less than 3 m (10 feet) tall. When......
Sideroxylon, genus of 75 species of woody trees and shrubs, within the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae), native to......
Sigillaria, extinct genus of tree-sized lycopsids from the Carboniferous Period (about 360 to 300 million years......
silky oak, (Grevillea robusta), large tree native to Australia and also grown as a street tree in warm areas and,......
Silphium, genus of tall perennial plants in the family Asteraceae, consisting of about 23 yellow-flowered species......
silver bells, (Halesia carolina), deciduous plant, of the storax family (Styracaceae), native to southeastern and......
silver fir, (Abies alba), tree growing to a height of 150 feet; abundant in the mountainous regions of central......
silver maple, (Acer saccharinum), large, spreading tree, of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), popular as a rapid-growing......
silvergrass, (genus Miscanthus), genus of about 10 species of tall perennial grasses in the family Poaceae, native......
Simaroubaceae, the quassia family of flowering plants, in the order Sapindales, comprising 25 genera of pantropical......
sisal, (Agave sisalana), plant of the family Asparagaceae and its fibre, the most important of the leaf fibre group.......
skunk cabbage, any of three species of plants that grow in bogs and meadows of temperate regions. In eastern North......
slipper flower, (genus Calceolaria), genus of more than 300 species of annual or perennial flowering plants of......
slippery elm, Large-leaved elm (Ulmus rubra or U. fulva) of eastern North America that has hard wood and fragrant......
slit moss, any of a number of plants in the granite moss (q.v.)...
Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet British physician and naturalist whose collection of books, manuscripts, and curiosities......
smallage, (Apium graveolens), wild celery; strongly scented, erect, biennial herb of the carrot family (Apiaceae,......
Smilax, genus of plants in the family Smilacaceae, consisting of about 300 species of woody or herbaceous vines,......
smoke tree, any of several plant species, the foliage or flowers of which suggest clouds of smoke. The name is......
snake gourd, (Trichosanthes cucumerina), rapid-growing vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), cultivated for......
snapdragon, (genus Antirrhinum), genus of about 20 species of herbaceous plants in the family Plantaginaceae, native......
sneezeweed, any of about 40 species of tall herbs constituting the genus Helenium of the family Asteraceae, native......
snow-on-the-mountain, (Euphorbia marginata), succulent plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), native to the......
snowberry, any of about 18 species of low shrubs belonging to the genus Symphoricarpos of the family Caprifoliaceae.......
snowdrop, (genus Galanthus), genus of about 20 species of white-flowered Eurasian plants in the amaryllis family......
snowflake, (genus Leucojum), small genus of flowering plants in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). Several......
soapberry, any member of the genus Sapindus, of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), comprising about 12 species......
soapwort, (genus Saponaria), genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae).......
Solanaceae, the nightshade, or potato, family of flowering plants (order Solanales), with 102 genera and about......
Solanales, potato order of flowering plants, including five families with 165 genera and more than 4,080 species.......
Solomon’s seal, any plant of the genus Polygonatum of the family Ruscaceae, consisting of about 25 species of herbaceous......
sorghum, (Sorghum bicolor), cereal grain plant of the grass family (Poaceae) and its edible starchy seeds. The......
sorrel, any of several hardy perennial herbs of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) that are widely distributed......
soursop, (Annona muricata), tree of the custard apple family (Annonaceae) and its large edible fruits. Native to......
sourwood, (species Oxydendrum arboreum), deciduous ornamental tree, of the heath family (Ericaceae), native to......
southern beech, (genus Nothofagus), genus of 35–40 species of trees and shrubs in the family Nothofagaceae, native......
soybean, (Glycine max), annual legume of the pea family (Fabaceae) and its edible seed. The soybean is economically......
Spanish lime, (Melicoccus bijugus), tree, of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to the West Indies. It......
Spanish moss, (Tillandsia usneoides), epiphyte (a nonparasitic plant that is supported by another plant and has......
spearmint, (Mentha spicata), aromatic herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), widely used for culinary purposes. Spearmint......
speedwell, any plant of the genus Veronica (order Lamiales), especially the small, sometimes weedy, herbaceous......
spelt, (Triticum spelta), species of wheat (family Poaceae) grown for livestock forage and used in baked goods......
Sphenoclea, the only genus in the plant family Sphenocleaceae (order Solanales). It contains two species. Sphenoclea......
Sphenophyllum, genus of extinct plants that lived from the end of the Devonian Period to the beginning of the Triassic......