Plants, GES-HOA

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

Gesneriaceae
Gesneriaceae, one of 23 families in the flowering plant order Lamiales, consisting of 147 genera and about 3,200......
gherkin
gherkin, (Cucumis anguria), annual trailing vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), grown for its edible fruit.......
ghost pepper
ghost pepper, (Capsicum chinense), small-fruited pepper in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), one of the hottest......
giant reed
giant reed, (Arundo donax), tall perennial grass of the family Poaceae. Giant reed is found in wetlands and riparian......
giant sequoia
giant sequoia, (Sequoiadendron giganteum), coniferous evergreen tree of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), the......
gillyflower
gillyflower, any of several scented flowering plants, especially the carnation, or clove pink (Dianthus caryophyllus),......
ginger
ginger, (Zingiber officinale), herbaceous perennial plant of the family Zingiberaceae, probably native to southeastern......
ginger lily
ginger lily, (genus Hedychium), genus of about 70 species in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), found mostly in......
ginkgo
ginkgo, (Ginkgo biloba), deciduous gymnosperm tree (family Ginkgoaceae), native to China. Ginkgo has been planted......
ginkgophyte
ginkgophyte, any member of the division Ginkgophyta, a group of gymnospermous plants of particular interest to......
ginseng
ginseng, (genus Panax), genus of 12 species of medicinal herbs of the family Araliaceae. The root of Asian ginseng......
gladiolus
gladiolus, (genus Gladiolus), genus of about 300 species of flowering plants of the iris family (Iridaceae), native......
glasswort
glasswort, (genus Salicornia), genus of about 30 species of annual succulent herbs in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae).......
Gleicheniaceae
Gleicheniaceae, the forking fern family (order Gleicheniales), containing 6 genera and about 125 species. This......
globe amaranth
globe amaranth, (Gomphrena globosa), ornamental garden plant of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), grown for......
globeflower
globeflower, any of about 20 species of perennial herbaceous plants constituting the genus Trollius of the buttercup......
Gloriosa
Gloriosa, genus of tuberous-rooted plants of the family Colchicaceae, native to tropical Africa and Asia. There......
glory-bower
glory-bower, the genus Clerodendrum (Clerodendron), consisting of about 400 herbs, vines, shrubs, and trees of......
Glossopteris
Glossopteris, genus of fossilized woody plants known from rocks that have been dated to the Permian and Triassic......
gloxinia
gloxinia, (Sinningia speciosa), perennial flowering plant of the family Gesneriaceae. Gloxinias are native to Brazil......
Gnetaceae
Gnetaceae, a family of tropical gymnosperms in the order Gnetales (division Gnetophyta), composed of one genus,......
gnetophyte
gnetophyte, (division Gnetophyta), any member of the division Gnetophyta, a small group of gymnospermous vascular......
goatgrass
goatgrass, (genus Aegilops), genus of about 20 species of grasses (family Poaceae) native to Eurasia and North......
goatsbeard
goatsbeard, (Aruncus dioicus), herbaceous perennial plant of the rose family (Rosaceae), native to the north temperate......
Goebel, Karl von
Karl von Goebel was a German botanist whose Organographie der Pflanzen (1898–1901; Organography of Plants, 1900–05)......
golden chain
golden chain, (Laburnum anagyriodes), small tree or shrub of the pea family (Fabaceae), cultivated as an ornamental.......
golden larch
golden larch, (Pseudolarix amabilis), coniferous tree of the family Pinaceae, native to China. A golden larch resembles......
golden rice
golden rice, a genetically modified rice (Oryza sativa) that has been engineered to biosynthesize beta-carotene,......
goldenrain tree
goldenrain tree, (Koelreuteria paniculata), flowering tree of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to East......
goldenrod
goldenrod, (genus Solidago), genus of about 150 species of weedy, usually perennial herbs of the aster family (Asteraceae).......
goldenseal
goldenseal, (species Hydrastis canadensis), perennial herb native to woods of the eastern United States. Its rootstocks......
goldentop
goldentop, (Lamarckia aurea), annual grass of the family Poaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. Goldentop......
Goodeniaceae
Goodeniaceae, the goodenia family of the aster order (Asterales), containing 12 genera and about 440 species, chiefly......
gooseberry
gooseberry, any of several species of flowering shrubs of the genus Ribes (family Grossulariaceae), cultivated......
goosefoot
goosefoot, (genus Chenopodium), genus of several weedy salt-tolerant plants belonging to the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae),......
gordonia
gordonia, any of some 70 species in the genus Gordonia of the tea family (Theaceae). The genus is native to North......
gorse
gorse, Any of several related plants of the genera Ulex and Genista. Common gorse (U. europaeus) is a spiny, yellow-flowered......
gourd
gourd, any of the hard-shelled fruits of certain members of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. Many gourds are cultivated......
grains of paradise
grains of paradise, pungent seeds of Aframomum melegueta, a reedlike plant of the family Zingiberaceae. Grains......
grama grass
grama grass, (genus Bouteloua), genus of about 50 species of annual or perennial grasses in the family Poaceae.......
granite moss
granite moss, any of the plants of the order Andreaeales of the subclass Andreaeidae, comprising a single family,......
grape
grape, (genus Vitis), genus of about 60 to 80 species of vining plants in the family Vitaceae, native to the north......
grape hyacinth
grape hyacinth, (genus Muscari), genus of about 50 species of small bulbous perennials (family Asparagaceae, formerly......
grapefruit
grapefruit, (Citrus ×paradisi), citrus tree of the Rutaceae family and its edible fruit. The grapefruit probably......
grass
grass, any of many low, green, nonwoody plants belonging to the grass family (Poaceae), the sedge family (Cyperaceae),......
grass of Parnassus
grass of Parnassus, (Parnassia), any of about 15 species of low perennial herbs, in the family Parnassiaceae, distributed......
grass tree
grass tree, (genus Xanthorrhoea), genus of about 30 species of slow-growing perennial plants (family Asphodelaceae)......
gray birch
gray birch, (Betula populifolia), slender ornamental tree of the family Betulaceae, found in clusters on moist......
Gray, Asa
Asa Gray was an American botanist whose extensive studies of North American flora did more than the work of any......
greasewood
greasewood, (species Sarcobatus vermiculatus), North American weedy shrub of the Sarcobataceae family. Greasewood......
green bean
green bean, widely cultivated, edible-podded legume of the species Phaseolus vulgaris. See...
green onion
green onion, young onions (family Amaryllidaceae) harvested when their tops are green and the underdeveloped bulbs......
greenheart
greenheart, (Chlorocardium rodiei), valuable South American timber tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae). A large......
greenhood
greenhood, (genus Pterostylis), genus of more than 100 species of terrestrial orchids (family Orchidaceae) native......
Grew, Nehemiah
Nehemiah Grew was an English botanist, physician, and microscopist, who, with the Italian microscopist Marcello......
ground cherry
ground cherry, (genus Physalis), genus of some 80 species of small herbaceous plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae),......
groundnut
groundnut, any of several plants that bear edible fruit or other nutlike parts. Three are members of the family......
groundsel
groundsel, (genus Senecio), large genus of about 1,200 species of flowering plants in the aster family (Asteraceae)......
growth ring
growth ring, in a cross section of the stem of a woody plant, the increment of wood added during a single growth......
guarana
guarana, (Paullinia cupana), woody, climbing plant, of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to the Amazon......
guava
guava, (Psidium guajava), small tropical tree or shrub of the family Myrtaceae, cultivated for its edible fruits.......
guayule
guayule, (Parthenium argentatum), rubber-containing desert shrub of the family Asteraceae, native to the north-central......
Gunnerales
Gunnerales, small order of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing two families, Gunneraceae and Myrothamnaceae,......
Guzmania
Guzmania, genus of about 85 species of tropical American and West Indian epiphytes (plants that are supported by......
gymnosperm
gymnosperm, any vascular plant that reproduces by means of an exposed seed, or ovule—unlike angiosperms, or flowering......
habanero
habanero, a variety of the chili pepper species Capsicum chinense, grown for its edible pungent fruit that is one......
Haberlandt, Gottlieb
Gottlieb Haberlandt was an Austrian botanist, pioneer in the development of physiological plant anatomy, and the......
hackberry
hackberry, any of several trees of the genus Celtis, with about 70 species in the hemp family (Cannabaceae), that......
hair-cap moss
hair-cap moss, any of the plants of the genus Polytrichum (subclass Bryidae) with 39–100 species; it often forms......
Hales, Stephen
Stephen Hales was an English botanist, physiologist, and clergyman who pioneered quantitative experimentation in......
Haller, Albrecht von
Albrecht von Haller was a Swiss biologist, the father of experimental physiology, who made prolific contributions......
Halogeton
Halogeton, genus of nine species of weedy plants in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), native to southwestern......
Hamamelidaceae
Hamamelidaceae, the witch hazel family (order Saxifragales), comprising about 30 genera and about 100 species of......
harebell
harebell, (Campanula rotundifolia), widespread, slender-stemmed perennial of the family Campanulaceae. The harebell......
hare’s-tail grass
hare’s-tail grass, (Lagurus ovatus), annual grass of the family Poaceae, native to shores of the Mediterranean......
hawkweed
hawkweed, (genus Hieracium), genus of more than 100 species of weedy herbs of the aster family (Asteraceae), native......
hawthorn
hawthorn, (genus Crataegus), large genus of thorny shrubs or small trees in the rose family (Rosaceae), native......
hazelnut
hazelnut, (genus Corylus), genus of about 15 species of shrubs and trees in the birch family (Betulaceae) and the......
heartwood
heartwood, dead, central wood of trees. Its cells usually contain tannins or other substances that make it dark......
heath
heath, (genus Erica), genus of about 800 species of low evergreen shrubs of the family Ericaceae. Most heath species......
heather
heather, (Calluna vulgaris), low evergreen shrub of the heath family (Ericaceae), widespread in western Europe......
Hechtia
Hechtia, genus of semidesert plants of the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae), consisting of about 35 New World species,......
hedgehog cactus
hedgehog cactus, (genus Echinocereus), genus of about 60 species of cacti (family Cactaceae), native from central......
heirloom plant
heirloom plant, any plant cultivar that has been grown for a certain number of years and that breeds “true to type”......
heliconia
heliconia, (genus Heliconia), the only genus of the family Heliconiaceae, with nearly 200 species of flowering......
heliotrope
heliotrope, (genus Heliotropium), genus of mostly herbaceous plants in the family Boraginaceae, distributed in......
hellebore
hellebore, member of either of two genera of poisonous herbaceous plants, Helleborus and Veratrum, some species......
helleborine
helleborine, any of the orchids of the two similar genera Cephalanthera and Epipactis (family Orchidaceae). The......
Helwingia
Helwingia, genus of three species of shrubs, constituting the family Helwingiaceae in the order Aquifoliales. Native......
hemlock
hemlock, (genus Tsuga), any of about 14 species of coniferous evergreen trees comprising the genus Tsuga of the......
hemp
hemp, (Cannabis sativa), plant of the family Cannabaceae cultivated for its bast fibre or its edible seeds. Hemp......
hen-and-chicks
hen-and-chicks, any of a number of succulent plants of the genera Echeveria and Sempervivum, in the family Crassulaceae;......
henbane
henbane, (Hyoscyamus niger), highly toxic plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to Eurasia and naturalized......
henequen
henequen, (Agave fourcroydes), fibre plant of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to Mexico and Guatemala.......
henna
henna tree, (Lawsonia inermis), tropical shrub or small tree of the loosestrife family (Lythraceae), native to......
hepatica
hepatica, (genus Hepatica), any of about seven species of small herbaceous plants of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)......
herbaceous plant
herbaceous plant, any vascular plant that does not have true woody tissues. Herbaceous angiosperms (flowering plants)......
hibiscus
hibiscus, (genus Hibiscus), genus of numerous species of herbs, shrubs, and trees in the mallow family (Malvaceae)......
hickory
hickory, (genus Carya), genus of about 18 species of deciduous timber and nut-producing trees of the walnut family......
Hoagland, Dennis Robert
Dennis Robert Hoagland American plant physiologist and authority on plant and soil interactions. Hoagland graduated......

Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title