glossary

basal leaves:

leaves at the base of the plant’s stem.

biodiversity:

the variety of life on our planet, measurable as the variety within species, between species, and the variety of ecosystems

botany:

the study of plant life, its structure and function

catkin:

a flowering spike found in many woody plants; a cluster of flowers without petals, usually unisexual (either male or female, not both).

circumboreal:

occurring in the boreal region around the world.

climate change:

gradual changes in all the interconnected weather elements on our planet.

coniferous:

plants that are mostly evergreen, with narrow needle-like leaves; produce cones for reproduction. Larch is the only conifer that sheds all of its needles annually.

deciduous:

a group of plants with leaves that fall off at the end of the growing season (start of the winter season in Canada).

indicator plants:

a plant that is recognized as a "biological measuring stick" of its habitat; it has brief, easily-observed growth stages, which reflect changes in its environment (eg. seasonal temperature increase).

perennial:

plants that grow and produce flowers in successive years, from the same roots.

phenology:

the study of the seasonal timing of life cycle events (changes in plants and animals).