Chapter M

=Magnesium=, _n._ A metal, very abundant in sea water and in the
earth’s crust. Also found in the composition of animals and some
plants.

=Mandrake=, _n._ A plant with umbrella-like leaves and a yellow, juicy
fruit as large as an egg.

=Microscope=, _n._ From two Greek words meaning “small” and “view”; an
instrument which magnifies and renders visible bodies too small to
be seen by the naked eye.

=Moth=, _n._ An insect resembling a butterfly. Moths have no knobs on
their antennæ, or “feelers,” and butterflies have.

=Mullein=, _n._ A tall, stout weed with thick, wooly leaves.

N.

=Naiads=, _n._ In Greek and Roman mythology, water nymphs. Beautiful
young goddesses presiding over springs and streams.

=Nasturtium=, _n._ L. _nasus_, nose, _tortus_, convulsed; the name of
a plant, so called because of its acrid juice that causes a stinging
sensation at the back of the nose when it is tasted.

=Nectar=, _n._ The drink of the gods on Mt. Olympus. The honey of
flowers.

=Nectaries=, _n._ The receptacles in which the nectar of flowers is
collected; also the gland which secretes the nectar.

=Neptune=, _n._ In Roman mythology, the god of the sea.

=Nettle=, _n._ A weed armed with stinging hairs.

=Nitrogen=, _n._ A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, forming about
three-fourths of the air and necessary to the formation of all
living bodies, whether plant or animal.

=Nitrogenous substances=, _n._ Substances in which nitrogen is one of
the constituents.

=Node=, _n._ L. _nodus_, a knot; the part of a stem which bears a leaf
or leaves. It is often a little larger than the rest of the stem.

O.

=Octavus=, _n._ L. _octavus_, eighth; given in this book as a name to
a suppositional plant.

=Oil=, _n._ From a Greek word meaning “olive oil.” An inflammable,
greasy liquid extracted from certain vegetables, as olives, cotton
seeds, nuts, etc.

=Olive oil=, _n._ The oil expressed from the fruit of the olive tree.

=Orient=, _n._ L. _oriens_, rising, as the sun; the East, the part of
the horizon where the sun rises; Eastern countries, particularly
Turkey, Persia, Egypt, India, China, etc.

=Ovary cells=, _n._ The cells which build up the ovary.

=Ovule=, _n._ L. _ovum_, an egg; a little egg. Applied to the
rudimentary seeds of plants, which, upon fertilization and growth,
become true seeds.

=Ovule cells=, _n._ The cells of which the ovule is formed.

=Oxalis=, _n._ From a Greek word meaning “acid”; a well-known plant,
one form of which is called “wood sorrel.” It is called oxalis
because of its acid juice.

=Oxygen=, _n._ One of the gases that compose the air and which is
essential to life. It is also found in composition in the tissues of
plants and animals.

P.

=Pelargonium=, _n._ From a Greek word meaning “a stork”; a member of
the Geranium Family, so called because of the beaked seed-pods.

=Petal=, _n._ From a Greek word meaning “a leaf”; one of the leaves of
a corolla.

=Phosphorus=, _n._ From a Greek word meaning “Lucifer, the morning
star”; a solid substance which is luminous in the dark. It is found
in composition in the bodies of animals and plants.

=Pioneer=, _n._ L. _pes_, a foot; in military terms, one of a company
of foot soldiers who march before an army with implements to clear
the way. Hence, whoever or whatever leads or prepares the way for
others coming after.

=Pistil=, _n._ L. _pistillum_, a pestle; the seed-bearing organ of a
flower, composed generally of three parts, ovary, style, and stigma,
and called pistil because of its shape, which often resembles a
pestle.

=Plant cells=, _n._ The cells of which plants are built up.

=Pollen=, _n._ L. _pollen_, fine flour; the dust or grains of
fertilizing material found in the anthers of flowers.

=Pollen cells=, _n._ The grains of pollen; each grain is a separate
cell.

=Polypetalous=, _a._ From two Greek words meaning “many” and “leaf.”
Said of a flower having two or more separate petals.

=Potash=, _n._ A combination of potassium, carbon, and oxygen. Potash
in various forms is found in all plants.

=Potassium=, _n._ A substance found in combination with other things
in the earth’s crust, and in the form of potash, an important factor
in the substance of plants and animals.

=Potato=, _n._ One of the edible tubers of the potato plant. The
potato is a swollen underground stem, the eyes being the nodes. The
potato contains a large amount of starch and is a valuable food. The
potato plant is a native of the Andes. It was taken to England from
Virginia in 1856.

=Prickles=, _n._ A.-S. _prica_, a sharp point; small, sharp-pointed
growths from the bark of plants.

=Primitive=, _a._ L. _primus_, first; pertaining to the beginning or
origin of a thing. In botany, beginning to take form, applied to an
organ or structure that is just beginning to assume form.

=Primus=, _n._ L. _primus_, first; a name given in this book to a
suppositional plant.

=Probing=, _n._ L. _probare_, to test, examine; examining by means of
a long, pointed instrument or probe. The bee or butterfly probes for
nectar with its long tongue.

=Protean=, _a._ Pertaining to Proteus; readily assuming different
shapes.

=Proteus=, _n._ In classical mythology, a sea god who had the power of
assuming different shapes. He could become a serpent or a cloud or a
bull or anything he chose to become.

=Protoplasm=, _n._ From two words meaning “first” and “form.” A
substance resembling the white of an egg in appearance, composed of
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus. It is
the foundation of all living forms.

=Protoplasmic=, _a._ Consisting of protoplasm.

Q.

=Quartus=, _n._ L. _quartus_, fourth; the name given in this book to a
suppositional plant.

=Quintus=, _n._ L. _quintus_, fifth; the name given in this book to a
suppositional plant.

R.

=Rain=, _n._ A.-S. _regn_, rain; the water falling in drops through
the atmosphere. Water rises as vapor from the moist earth and the
sea; it is then condensed by coming in contact with the cold upper
air, and falls to the earth as rain.

=Reproduced=, _pp._ L. _re_, again, _producere_, to produce, to bring
forth; produced again, having formed new plants or animals from
those already existing.

=Retrogressed=, _pp._ Went backward.

=Retrogression=, _n._ L. _retro_, backward, _gradi_, to go; the act of
going backward.

=Rhea=, _n._ In classical mythology, the wife of Saturn and mother of
Jupiter.

=Ribs=, _n._ The bones that form the framework of the chest in the
higher animals; the timbers that form the framework of a ship; the
stiff fibres that form the framework of a leaf.

=Robinson Crusoe=, _n._ A story written by Daniel Defoe and published
in 1719. The adventures of Robinson are said to have been suggested
by the life of Alexander Selkirk, who was shipwrecked and lived for
four years on the desert island of Juan Fernandez.

=Root=, _n._ The part of a plant that usually grows down into the
soil, fixing the plant and absorbing nutriment.

=Root cap=, _n._ The hard cap which covers and protects the growing
tip of a root.

=Root hairs=, _n._ The fine filaments growing from the skin of young
roots that absorb the nutriment for plants.

=Rubythroat=, _n._ The name of the North American humming bird, so
called because of the bright red feathers on its throat.

S.

=Salamander=, _n._ A kind of lizard, formerly supposed to be able to
live in the fire.

=Salt=, _n._ One of the most important substances in the world. It is
necessary to the existence of animals and is one of the constituents
of many plants.

=Sap=, _n._ The juice of plants. It is to them what the blood is to
animals.

=Saturn=, _n._ In classical mythology, the father of Jupiter.

=Scales=, _n._ A.-S. _scealu_, a scale, husk; in botany, a small,
rudimentary leaf, scale-like in form. Scales cover the leaf buds and
sometimes the flower buds; they also constitute some bulbs.

=Scape=, _n._ L. _scapus_, shaft, stalk; the long, leafless peduncle
which starts from the ground and bears flowers at the top, as in the
hyacinth.

=Sceptre=, _n._ L. _sceptrum_, a staff to lean on; a sceptre; a staff
of office; the staff of kingship.

=Secrete=, _v._ L. _secernere_, to separate; to form from the
materials of the sap or the blood a new substance. The organ that
secretes is called a gland.

=Secundus=, _n._ L. _secundus_, second; the name given in this book to
a suppositional plant.

=Seed=, _n._ The fertilized and matured ovule of a flower.

=Seed-coat=, _n._ The outer covering to a seed.

=Seedlet=, _n._ A little seed.

=Sepal=, _n._ L. _separ_, separate; one of the separate leaves that
form the calyx.

=Septimus=, _n._ L. _septimus_, seventh; the name given in this book
to a suppositional plant.

=Sextus=, _n._ L. _sextus_, sixth; a name given in this book to a
suppositional plant.

=Shrub=, _n._ A woody, branching plant, smaller than a tree.

=Silica=, _n._ L. _silex_, flint; a substance found very abundantly in
the earth’s crust. It is very hard, and when melted forms glass; it
is found in solution in some springs and is taken up by certain
plants and deposited on or near the surface.

=Skin=, _n._ The outside covering of an animal or plant.

=Skin cells=, _n._ The cells of which the skin is made up.

=Snowdrop=, _n._ An early spring flower cultivated in gardens; it
sometimes blossoms under the snow.

=Soda=, _n._ A compound of sodium, carbon, and oxygen; found in the
composition of some plants.

=Sodium=, _n._ One of the elements of common salt, and also found in
the tissues of plants and animals.

=Sorrel=, _n._ A.-S. _sūr_, sour; a kind of plant with acid leaves.

=Sphinx=, _n._ In Greek mythology, a monster with the head of a woman,
the wings of an eagle, and the claws of a lion; she sat on a rock
and proposed a riddle to all who passed and killed those who could
not guess it. The Egyptian sphinx has no wings and is not the same
as the Greek monster; it is generally placed in rows in avenues
leading to temples, and the largest and most famous Egyptian sphinx
is the Great Sphinx near the great pyramids of Ghizeh; it held a
temple between its paws.

=Spring beauties=, _n._ Pretty, delicate, and early spring flowers.

=Spur=, _n._ A pointed instrument worn on the heel to goad a horse;
any sharp projection formed like a horseman’s spur.

=Stamen=, _n._ L. _stamen_, thread, string, fibre; the floral organ
containing the fertilizing pollen. The stamen, like the pistil, is
believed to be a modified leaf.

=Starch=, _n._ A substance composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen,
forming one of the principal elements in plants and necessary as
food to animals.

=Stiffening cells=, _n._ The woody cells and other tough-walled cells
that serve to keep the shape of a plant.

=Stigma=, _n._ The structure at the top of the style where the pollen
is received.

=Stipules=, _n._ L. _stipula_, a stalk, stem, blade; the small,
leaf-like appendages at the base of the petiole of leaves.

=Stoma=, _n._ From a Greek word meaning “mouth-opening”; a small
opening in the skin of leaves and young stems leading to the air
cavities within the plant; a breathing pore.

=Stomata=, _n._ The plural of “stoma.”

=Strengthening cells=, _n._ The cells with tough or hard walls that
serve to give firmness and support to plant tissues.

=Suction=, _n._ L. _sugere_, to suck; the process of sucking.

=Sulphur=, _n._ A solid substance found in the earth’s crust in
certain places; it is one of the constituents of protoplasm, and
although occurring in it in very small quantities, it is essential.

=Sulphuric acid=, _n._ Oil of vitriol, a combination of hydrogen,
sulphur, and oxygen. Sulphuric acid is found in the earth and in the
air in very small quantities, and is the source from which plants as
a rule derive their sulphur.

T.

=Tertius=, _n._ L. _tertius_, third; the name given in this book to a
suppositional plant.

=Thoreau=, _n._ Henry David Thoreau, an American author of the present
century, wrote a number of delightful books on nature.

=Tissue=, _n._ L. _texere_, to weave; a woven fabric; the cellular
fabric of plant structures.

=Tropæolum=, _n._ From a Greek word meaning “a turning,” hence, a
turning of the enemy, a defeat; finally, the sign of a defeat, a
trophy; the name of a plant, so called because of the shield-shaped
leaves, many shields together suggesting trophies taken from the
enemy.

=Tube cells=, _n._ The cells that build up the tubes of plants.

=Tuber=, _n._ L. _tuber_, a bump, swelling; a thickened portion of an
underground stem. The potato is a tuber; it stores up starch for the
use of the growing plant.

=Tubular corolla=, _n._ A tube-shaped corolla. The red honeysuckle has
a tubular corolla.

=Tunic=, _n._ L. _tunica_, a tunic; the name of a garment worn by the
Romans; a loose flowing robe; hence, any garment; a name given to
the scaly coverings of bulbs like the onion and hyacinth.

=Tunicated=, _a._ Having a tunic.

U.

=Underground stems=, _n._ Stems that grow beneath the surface of the
earth and look more or less like roots. They can always be
distinguished from roots by the presence of nodes.