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Glossary of Plants Terms beginning with letter C
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cabbage noun An edible plant (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) having a head of green leaf, leaves. (uncountable) The leaf, leaves of this plant eaten as a vegetable. Cabbage is good for you. (offensive) A person with severely reduced mental capacities due to brain damage. After the car crash, he became a cabbage. (uncountable, slang) Cloth or clippings cabbaged or purloined by one who cuts out garments. (uncountable, slang) Money verb (cabbag, ing) (intransitive) To form a head like that the cabbage; as, to make lettuce cabbage. (intransitive) To purloin or embezzle, as the pieces of cloth remaining after cutting out a garment; to pilfer. cacao noun cacao tree cocoa bean cactus noun (pl=cacti, pl2=cactuses) (botany) Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate. Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaf, leaves, including euphorbs. adjective (Australian slang) Non-functional, broken, exhausted. (commons) Cade proper noun An English metonymic occupational surname for a cooper (given name, male) derived from the surname. Cade Calvert is a character in the novel Gone with the Wind (1936) by Margaret Mitchell. calamus noun sweet flag, acorus calamus A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices (Song of Solomon 4:12-14, KJV) a quill California poppy noun A popular flowering garden plant, Eschscholzia californica, native to the south-western United States. calla noun (botany) A South African marsh plant, of the genus Calla, having pale green flowers in a white spathe camellia noun Any plant of the genus Camellia, shrubs and small trees native to Asia; Camellia japonica is the most popular as a garden plant; Camellia sinensis is the tea plant. campion noun any flowering plant of the genus Lychnis. any flowering plant of the genus Silene. cane noun (uncountable) The slender, flexible stem of plants such as bamboo, reed, or the like. (uncountable) The plant itself. (uncountable) sugar cane. (countable) A short wooden or bamboo rod or stick used for corporal punishment. (the cane; uncountable) Corporal punishment consisting of a beating with a cane. The teacher gave his student the cane for throwing paper. (countable) A strong short staff used for support during walking by the disabled or infirm. After breaking his leg, he needed to use a cane to walk. (countable) A long collapsible (and usually white for improved visibility) wooden, metal or plastic rod used by blind people to feel for obstacle, obstacles in their path. verb (can, ing) (context, UK, slang) To strike or beat, notably with a cane or similar implement; to destroy. (context, UK, slang) To do something well, in a competent fashion. cantaloupe noun (Europe) A type of melon, Cucumis melo cantaloupensis,. Also known as "true cantaloupe". A type of melon, Cucumis melo reticulatus , with sweet orange flesh and a rough skin resembling netting. Also known as muskmelon or rockmelon. cape gooseberry noun a tropical South American plant, Physalis peruviana, with a bright yellow, edible fruit caper noun A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or dancing; a prank. A vessel formerly used by the Dutch, privateer. The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), which is pickled and eaten. A plant of the genus Capparis; -- called also caper bush, caper tree. A crime (esp. theft) or a story about such a crime. verb To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers; to skip; to spring; to prance; to dance. caprifig noun A fig tree which produces both male and female flowers and is used to fertilize the female trees of the species. The accessory fruit of this tree, which is considered inedible by humans. capsicum noun any of several tropical American plants, of the genus Capsicum, that are cultivated as edible peppers the fruit of these plants, the bell peppers caraway noun A biennial plant native to Europe and Asia, mainly grown for its seed to be used as a culinary spice. The seed-like fruit of the caraway plant. carnation noun a type of flower, originally flesh-coloured, but now found in a variety of colours. (botany) a type of Eurasian plant (Dianthus caryophyllus) widely cultivated for its flowers. (colour) a rose, rosy pink colour; sometimes, a deep red colour. <table><tr><td>carnation colour:  </td><td bgcolor=" F1DCDF?" width="80">  </td></tr></table> adjective (colour) of a rosy pink or red colour. carrot noun A vegetable with a nutritious, juicy, orange, sweet root. cascara noun A North American buckthorn, Rhamnus purshiana, whose bark is used as a laxative cashew noun A tree in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae, native to northeastern Brazil, now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew nuts and cashew apples. A cashew nut. cassava noun manioc, the source of tapioca A starchy pulp made with the roots of this tropical plant. Cassiope proper noun (wikipedia, Cassiopeia) (greekmyth): Proud wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda, queen of Eritrea. When she boasted that her beauty was equal to that of the Nereids, she was punished by Poseidon. (constellation): A circumpolar constellation of the northern sky representing Queen Cassiopeia from Greek myth. The constellation lies between Cepheus and Perseus. castor bean noun the seed of the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis; used in the production of castor oil and of the poison ricin catnip noun (botany) Any of the about 250 species of flowering plant of the genus w:Nepeta, Nepeta, family w:Lamiaceae, Lamiaceae, certain of which are said to have medicinal qualities. Nepeta cataria and Nepeta grandiflora (and perhaps other species), which are well-known for causing an apparently harmless pheromone-based intoxication among certain cats. Some cats go bonkers over ; others ignore it. Welcomely refreshing or rejuvenating. ''Her phone call was to my ears. cauliflower noun An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage, of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable. The edible head or "curd" of a cauliflower plant. Cedar proper noun (computing) A programming language. celandine noun Either of two unrelated flowering plants The greater celandine The lesser celandine celeriac noun a form of celery, Apium graveolens, having an aromatic taproot eaten as a vegetable celery noun (celeries) A European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family. (uncountable) The stalks of this herb eaten as a vegetable. cereal noun (countable and uncountable; plural cereals) (countable) A type of grass (such as wheat, rice or oats) cultivated for its edible grains. (uncountable) The grains of such a grass. (uncountable) Breakfast cereal; (countable) a particular type of breakfast cereal. (uncountable): Would you like some cereal? (countable): Which cereal would you like for breakfast? chard noun Artichoke leaves and shoots, blanched to eat. (uncountable) An edible leafy vegetable, Beta vulgaris var. cicla, with a slightly bitter taste chayote noun A tropical American perennial herbaceous vine having tendrils, tuberous roots, and a green, pear-shaped fruit cooked as a vegetable. The fruit of this plant. cherimoya noun A subtropical tree, scientific name Annona cherimola, native to mountainous areas South America A conical fruit with white flesh, distinguished by its irregular pattern on the skin, the fruit of the cherimoya (defn 1.) tree, also known as a custard apple in some regions. cherry noun (cherr, ies) a small fruit, usually red, black or yellow, with a smooth hard seed and a short hard stem. a tree or shrub that bears cherries. the wood of a cherry tree. (colour) a bright red color, colour <table><tr><td>cherry colour:  </td><td bgcolor=" 903940" width="80">  </td></tr></table> (slang) virginity, particularly of a woman. adjective containing or having the taste of cherries. (colour) of a bright red colour. (informal, often, of cars) In excellent condition; mint condition. 2003, John Morgan Wilson, http://books.google.com/books?id=IfdlE6ZkUVoC&pg=PA108&dq=cherry&ei=YB7cRui4DoqKoQKBqvSSCw&sig=lsDxGmPfq20A6DZuuTh4YQTiSPc Blind Eye, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312309198, p. 108 : A few years earlier, I'd restored my "65 Mustang convertible to condition"fire engine red, with matching tuck-and-roll"and I wasn't surprised that it drew attention. chervil noun A leafy herb, resembling parsley with a mild flavour of anise. chestnut noun (plural chestnuts) A tree or shrub of the genus Castanea. The nut of this tree or shrub. A dark, reddish-brown colour/color. <table><tr><td>chestnut colour:  </td><td bgcolor=" 551608" width="80">  </td></tr></table> A reddish-brown horse. The wood of a chestnut tree. (Often "old chestnut") a worn-out meme; a work so often repeated as to have grown tiresome. A part of a horse found on the inner leg, similar to a birthmark on a human. adjective (no (compar) or (superl)) (colour) of a deep reddish brown colour, like that of a chestnut. chia noun a Mexican plant, Salvia columbariae, related to mint; it has blue flowers and edible seeds chickpea noun An annual Asian plant (Cicer arietinum) in the pea family, widely cultivated for the edible seeds in its short inflated pods. A seed of this plant, often used as a food. chickweed noun Any of several small-leaved herbs of the genera Cerastium and Stellaria chickweed wintergreen noun Trientalis europaea; a plant in the Primulaceae family chicory noun Either of two plants of the Asteracaea family: true chicory (Cichorium intybus) and endive (Cichorium endivia) chili noun (pl=chilis, pl2=chilies) The spicy fresh or dried fruit of any of several cultivated varieties of capsicum, used especially to add heat, or as a flavouring in cooking; associated with Mexican, Indian and Tex-Mex cuisine. chili pepper noun Any fruit of a plant of the botanical genus Capsicum, noted for their spicy and burning flavor due to presence of capsaicin. Not all chili peppers are particularly spicy but all true chili peppers contain some (in contrast to the bell pepper which is not a true chili pepper and does not). chive noun A plant that is perennial (Latin Allium schoenoprasum), related to the onion. (in plural chives) The leaves of this plant used as a herb. chrysanthemum noun Any of many flowering perennial plants, of the genus Chrysanthemum, native to China, that have showy radiate Adjective, radiate heads chufa noun a European sedge of the genus Cyperus having small edible tubers cilantro noun (italbrac, herb) the leaves of the coriander plant. cinchona noun Any of several South American trees, of the genus Cinchona, cultivated for its medicinal bark. 2001: German chemists were the first to isolate pure drug chemicals from herbal medicines, with the isolation of morphine from crude opium in 1803 and quinine from the bark of the tree in 1820. " Leslie Iversen, Drugs: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford 2001, p. 8) The bark of these trees, that yields quinine alkaloids used to treat malaria. cinnamon noun (countable) a tropical Asian tree with an aromatic bark. (uncountable) a spice from the dried aromatic bark of the cinnamon tree, either rolled into strips or ground into a powder. (countable) a yellowish-brown color, colour, the color of cinnamon. <table><tr><td>cinnamon colour:  </td><td bgcolor=" 8A563A" width="80">  </td></tr></table> adjective containing cinnamon, or having a cinnamon taste. of a yellowish-brown colour. citron noun (colour) a greenish yellow colour. <table><tr><td>citron colour:  </td><td bgcolor=" E7F950?" width="80">  </td></tr></table> a small citrus tree, Citrus medica the fruit of a citron tree. the candied rind of the citron fruit. adjective (colour) of a greenish yellow colour. citronella noun A tropical Asian grass, Cymbopogon nardus, that has lemon-scented leaves An essential oil obtained from this plant citrus noun Any of several shrubs or trees of the family Rutaceae The fruit of such plants, generally spherical, oblate, or prolate, consisting of an outer glandular skin called zest, an inner white skin, and generally between 8 and 16 sectors filled with pulp consisting of cells with one end attached to the inner skin. Citrus fruits include orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and citron. adjective of, or relating to citrus plants or fruit cleavers noun (plural of, cleaver) clementine noun A cross between a tangerine and Seville orange. cloudberry noun (cloudberr, ies) A species of slow-growing bramble, Rubus chamaemorus. The fruit of these plants. clove noun (plural cloves) A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the clove tree (Eugenia aromatica syn. Caryophullus aromatica), a native of the Molucca Isles. any one of the separate bulbs that make up the larger bulb of garlic an old English measure of weight, containing 7 pounds; half a stone. Quotations 1866: By a statute of 9 Hen. VI. it was ordained that the wey of cheese should contain 32 cloves of 7 lbs. each, i.e. 224 lbs., or 2 cwts. — James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, Volume 1, p. 169. verb Past participle of cleave clover noun A plant of the genus Trifolium with leaves usually divided into three (rarely four) leaflets and with white or red flowers. club moss noun Any of various simple microphyllous vascular plants, of the family Lycopodiaceae, that resemble mosses and produce spores. coca noun The dried leaf of a South American shrub (Erythroxylon coca). cockscomb noun The fleshy red crest of a rooster A red cap once worn by court jesters An annual garden plant, Celosia cristata, having showy red clusters of flowers (archaic) A conceited dandy (nautical) A serrated cleat once fitted to the yards of a square-rigged ship and used when the sail was being reefed cockspur noun The spur of a gamecock Any of several unrelated thorny shrubs coco noun coconut palm coconut adjective Of a chocolate-like nature. Containing or flavoured like chocolate. Cocoa proper noun (wikipedia, Cocoa (API)) (computing) an object-oriented programming API for Mac OS X cocoa bean noun seed of the cacao plant; used to make chocolate, cocoa and cocoa butter coconut noun The fruit of the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, having a fibrous husk surrounding a large seed. The hard-shelled seed of this fruit, having white flesh and a fluid-filled central cavity. The edible white flesh of this fruit. The coconut palm. (pejorative) A Hispanic person who acts "white" (Western). (context, New Zealand, pejorative) A Pacific islander. coffee noun A beverage made by infuse, infusing the beans of the coffee plant in hot water. A serving of the beverage coffee We"d like three coffees* on this table please* The seeds of the plant used to make coffee, misnamed "beans" due to their shape. A tropical plant of the genus Coffea. (colour) A pale brown colour, like that of milk coffee. <table><tr><td>coffee colour:  </td><td bgcolor=" 6F4E37" width="80">  </td></tr></table> adjective (colour) Of a pale brown colour, like that of milk coffee. cohosh noun A perennial American herb (Caulophyllum thalictroides), whose rootstock is used in medicine. Cole proper noun An English surname, possibly a nickname from col, Old English "charcoal,coal-black". A male given name derived from the surname. coleus noun A plant of several species of the Mint family, cultivated for its bright-colored or variegated leaves. colewort noun An alternative word for kale (cf., cole, coleslaw). collard noun A Mediterranean variety of kale, Brassica oleracea (variety acephala) composite noun A mixture of different components. A structural material that gains its strength from a combination of complementary materials. (botany) A plant belonging to the family Compositae. (mathematics) A function of a function. verb (composit, ing) To make a composite. I composited* an image using computer software.* adjective Made up of multiple components; compound or complex. (architecture) Being a mixture of Ionic and Corinthian styles. (mathematics) Not prime; having factors. (botany) Being a member of the Compositae family (now known as Asteraceae). conifer noun (botany) a plant belonging to the conifers; a cone-bearing seed plant with vascular tissue, usually a tree. cordon noun (archaic) A ribbon normally worn diagonally across the chest as a decoration or insignia of rank etc. A line of people or things placed around an area to enclose or protect it. (Cricket) The arc of fielders on the off side, behind the batsman - the slips and gully. (botany) A woody plant, such as a fruit tree, pruned and trained to grow as a single stem on a support. verb (cordon, ed) (context, with "off") To form a around an area in order to prevent movement in or out. coriander noun The annual herb Coriandrum sativum: used in many cuisines, particularly Asian, Mediterranean, and Mexican. The leaves have a very different flavour to the seeds. Both are used, depending upon local taste. In the :wikipedia:United States, US, when the leaves are used fresh (not dried), the plant is called cilantro. Dried leaves and seeds, however, are coriander. Cork proper noun Principal city of County Cork. County in the Republic of Ireland. (County Cork) corn noun (archaic) A grain or seed. (uncountable) The grain obtained from a plant, especially of cereal crops.<ref>(cite web , title = Corn , publisher = Oxford University Press , work = Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary , url = http://www.oup.com/oald-bin/web_getald7index1a.pl?search_word=corn)</ref><ref>(cite web , title = Corn , publisher = Merriam-Webster Incorporated , work = Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary , url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corn(/i))</ref> (uncountable) A cereal plant grown for its grain (locally denoting the leading crop of that district, i.e. oats in parts of Scotland and Ireland, wheat, barley etc. in England and Wales, maize in the Americas).<ref>(cite web , title = Corn , publisher = Oxford University Press , work = Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary , url = http://www.oup.com/oald-bin/web_getald7index1a.pl?search_word=corn)</ref><ref>(cite web , title = Corn , publisher = Merriam-Webster Incorporated , work = Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary , url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corn(/i))</ref> (US, uncountable) maize, Maize. (context, US, Canada) Sweetcorn<ref>(cite web , title = Corn , publisher = Merriam-Webster Incorporated , work = Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary , url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corn)</ref><ref>(cite web , title = Sweetcorn , publisher = Oxford University Press , work = Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary , url = http://www.oup.com/oald-bin/web_getald7index1a.pl?search_word=sweetcorn(/i))</ref> (Zea mays var. rugosa).<ref>(cite web , title = Sweetorn , publisher = Merriam-Webster Incorporated , work = Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary , url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweetcorn(/i))</ref> verb (context, US, Canada) To granulate - form a substance into grains. (context, US, Canada) To preserve using coarse salt, e.g. Corned beef. (context, US, Canada) To provide with corn (typically maize) for feed. e.g. Corn the horses. cornel noun (botany) Any tree or shrub of the genus Cornus, i.e., dogwood, especially C. mas, the w:European cornel. The cherry-like fruit of such plants, certain of which are edible, often termed a cornelian cherry or cornel cherry. cornflower noun A small annual species of aster, usually with bushy blue flowers which grows natively in European cornfields (i.e. wheatfields). (colour) a blue colour, as that of the cornflower. <table><tr><td>cornflower colour:  </td><td bgcolor=" 88AAE3" width="80">  </td></tr></table> adjective (colour) of a blue colour, as that of the cornflower. Cos proper noun or Kos An island of the Dodecanese, Greece. cosmos noun The universe An ordered, harmonious whole Any of various mostly Mexican herbs of the genus Cosmos having radiate heads of variously coloured flowers and pinnate leaves costard noun (British) a large cooking apple cotton noun A plant that encases its seed in a thin fiber that is harvested and used as a fabric or cloth. The textile that is harvested from the cotton plant. adjective Made of cotton. cottonseed noun The seed of the cotton plant cottonwood noun A number of species of tree in the genus Populus (poplars), typically growing along watercourses. cowberry noun (cowberries) A shrub native of the cool temperate areas of northern hemisphere, Vaccinium vitis-idaea. The berry of that shrub. cowpea noun the black-eyed pea cowslip noun Cowslip A low-growing plant, Primula veris, with yellow flowers. crab noun A crustacean of the infraorder Brachyura, having five pairs of legs, the foremost of which are in the form of claws, and a carapace. A bad-tempered person. (context, in plural crabs, informal) An infestation of pubic lice. (slang) A playing card with the rank of three. verb (crabs, crabbing, crabbed) (intransitive) To fish for crabs. (intransitive) To complain. (intransitive) (by analogy with the movement of a crab) Of an aircraft, such as a glider, to move sideways. (transitive) (by analogy with the movement of a crab) To navigate (an aircraft, e.g., a glider) sideways against an air current in order to maintain a straight-line course. (context, obsolete) In World War 1, to fly slightly off the straight-line course towards an enemy aircraft, as the machine guns on early aircraft did not allow firing through the propeller disk. (rare) To back out of something. cranberry noun (cranberr, ies) A shrub belonging to the Vaccinium family, Vaccinium oxycoccus, with a number of subspecies. The red berry of that shrub. crape myrtle noun Any of the genus Lagerstroemia, family Lythraceae, shrubs or small trees, certain of which are ornamental, bearing big gaudy blooms. Also crepe myrtle. cress noun (botany) A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic. crocus noun (plural crocuses or croci) (botany) A perennial flowering plant (of the Iridaceae family). Saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus. (botany) Some similar flowering plants, such as the autumn crocus and prairie crocus. croton noun Any of various plants, of the genus Croton, that yield croton oil A tropical evergreen shrub, Codiaeum variegatum, having glossy foliage, cultivated as a houseplant (New York City), (historical) The main water supply pipe to a building or apartment, from the w:Croton-on-Hudson, New York, Croton River, dams, reservoirs and w:Croton Aqueduct, aquaduct supplying New York City with water. crowberry noun (crowberries) Empetrum; a small genus of dwarf evergreen shrubs that bear edible fruit. A fruit of such plant. cube noun (rfc, a DIV in wikitext? Shame, shame.) <div style="float:right;;width:120px"> </div> (geometry) A polyhedron having of six identical square faces. Any object more or less in the form of a cube. a sugar a stock (mathematics) The third power of a number, value, term or expression. cubeb noun The tailed pepper, Piper cubeba; an Indonesian plant cultivated for its berries and essential oil. cucumber noun A vine in the gourd family, Cucumis sativus. The edible fruit of this plant, having a green rind and crisp white flesh. cucurbitaceous adjective Pertaining to the gourd family, including cucumbers, pumpkins etc. 1973, Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow: :On he goes, gabbing, gabbing, recipes for preparing beets in a hundred tasty ways, or such improbabilities as Ernest Pudding"s Gourd Surprise cumin noun A flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the region from the eastern Mediterranean to India. A spice derived from this plant, used in Indian and Mexican cookery. curare noun A substance containing the alkaloid D-tubocurarine, used historically as a muscle relaxant during surgery. currant noun A small dried grape. The fruit of various bushes of the genus Ribes, either white, black or red. A bush bearing such fruit. cycad noun Any plant of the natural order Cycadaceae, as the sago palm, etc. cyclamen noun Any of various flowering plants, of the genus Cyclamen, widely cultivated as a houseplant, having decorative leaves and solitary flowers cypress noun (plural: cypresses) An evergreen coniferous tree with flatterned shoots bearing small scale-like leaves, whose dark foliage is sometimes associated with mourning.

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