=marcescent=, withering on the plant without falling off, _e.g._, the flower of =Dombeya=. =membranous=, thin and not stiff. =-merous=, used to show the numbers of parts in each floral envelope, _e.g._, trimerous, having 3 sepals, 3 petals (if any), 3 stamens, and (or) 3 carpels. =monadelphous=, when all the stamens are joined by their filaments, thus forming a sheath round the ovary, _e.g._, =Malvaceæ=, some =Leguminosæ=, etc. =monandrous=, with one stamen. =moniliform=, or beaded, repeatedly constricted, _e.g._, the pod of =Acacia arabica=. =monocotyledon=, having only one seed-leaf, _e.g._, =Palms=, =Grasses=, =Sedges=, =Lilies=, etc. =monœcious=, a plant having separate male and female flowers on the same individual, see =diœcious=. =mucronate=, terminating abruptly in a short stiff point or =mucro=. =multifid=, divided distinctly into many parts. =multipartite=, divided deeply into many parts. =multisect=, divided so deeply into many parts that the individual parts are practically divided off. =muricate=, covered with short, sharp protuberances. =naked=, applied to a flower means that it has no calyx or corolla, applied to a seed that it has no pericarp. =-nate=, a suffix showing that 2 or more leaves, etc., are together, _e.g._, binate, 2 together, ternate, in a whorl of 3, etc. =nectary=, an organ secreting sugary fluid within the flower. =node=, the point of attachment of a leaf to a stem. =nodose=, applied to roots and stems swollen at intervals, knotted. =nut=, a dry indehiscent fruit with a hard woody pericarp. =ob-=, a prefix which used with terms denoting shape (excepting oblong) means that the shape is inverted; _e.g._, =oblanceolate= or =obovate= applied to a leaf mean that the broader part of the leaf is towards the apex as if it had been inverted, =obcordate= inverted heart-shaped, with the lobes at the apex. =oblong=, elongated elliptic. =obtuse=, blunt. =ochrea=, a membranous sheath, _e.g._, some =Polygonaceæ=. =opposite=, applied to leaves means that these are inserted in pairs, one leaf on either side of the stem. =orbicular=, round, circular. =organ=, every part of a plant which has a distinct function to perform. =ostiole=, small aperture as, _e.g._, into the receptacle in =Ficus=. =oval=, of the same shape as the mathematical figure. =ovary=, one or more carpels enclosing one or more ovules. =ovate=, somewhat egg-shaped in outline, flat and scarcely twice as long as broad, broadest below the middle. =ovoid=, applied to bodies of three dimensions, _e.g._, ovaries and seeds, which are egg-shaped. =ovule=, the early condition of future seeds within the ovary. =palate=, part of the lower lip which closes the mouth of a ringent corolla; _e.g._, in =Snap-Dragon=. =paleaceous=, chaff-like. =paleæ=, inner bracts or scales in =Compositæ= or =Gramineæ=, see also =valvules=. =palmate=, applied to a simple leaf divided like a hand into several lobes.