Glossary

The plant world is full of acronyms and all sorts of words and terms that definitely weren't covered in high school biology (or if they were we've all forgotten them). As a beginner it can feel like trying to understand a foreign language. So, consider this the start of a guide book to the modern world of Anthurium (and some generic terms which apply to all plants).

I am an imperfect person. If you think I've got anything wrong or if you feel something can be explained more clearly please do contact me. Constructive criticism is always appreciated. 

If you'd like a term added or you think that something needs more explanation in a blog post, please let me know via this form. I won't always know the answer but hopefully I can find someone who does and we can build the guide. 


TermUnabbreviatedMeaning
aff
affinisLatin term for an unknown species that looks similar to another species
Abaxial
The lower surface of a leaf (I remember it as bax = back)
Adaxial

The upper surface of a leaf
AOSAce of SpadesA sought-after Anthurium hybrid, originally from Silver Krome Gardens
Back cross
When a hybrid is crossed with one of its parents, usually to try to emphasise the traits of that parent in the resulting offspring
Bench hybrid AKA open pollination
Plants that have been pollinated naturally or accidentally and therefore the pollen parent (see entry) can't be identified
Binomial nomenclature
The system of naming all organisms by their genus and their species (e.g. Anthurium luxurians and Homo sapiens). The genus is capitalised and the species isn’t (technically they should also be in italics but we’re not botanists so let’s not get carried away). See also Taxonomy.
BSTBuy Sell TradeI'm adding this because for the longest time I thought a Facebook group with this in the name was explaining that it followed British Summer Time. I often wondered why they felt the need to mention it until someone put me out of my misery.
Bullate
A botanical term describing a surface that's blistered and pebbly
BVEPBlack Velvet Eastern PanamaA dark velvet Anthurium from, believe it or not, Eastern Panama. This plant has been described (see entry) and given the name Anthurium antolakii. As it has not yet been published, antolakii is technically still a placeholder name, just like sp. BVEP. 
BVITBlack Velvet Indo TypeAn Indonesian hybrid
Cataphyll

A modified leaf which protects newly emerging leaf blades. In Anthurium the term 'at cataphyll' or similar is used to describe a relatively mature plant which may soon begin to flower. 
cf.conferA latin term (literally meaning to compare) for an undescribed plant (see entry) that looks similar to another species but has notable differences. Often used interchangeably with 'aff' (see entry).
Clone

a) a propagation or division of a particular plant (see entry 'vegetative propagation')

b) used to refer to notable individual plants, often named by the collector (e.g. papillilaminum RA1 - see entry for RA)"

Collecting / collective vein
The vein that runs around the inner edge of a leaf
Convolute vernation

Where new leaves are fully rolled together lengthways from one margin to another. As far as I know, most of the more common Anthurium unfurl their leaves this way. Compare with involute vernation and see separate entry on vernation.
Cultivar

The word is a contraction of 'cultivated variety'. It's a plant that has been selectively bred to enhance desired traits
Described

Where a botanist has described a newly discovered species before publishing it in an academic journal (where the latin name is given)
Doc Block

A US breeder (his website)  
DPDark PhoenixA sought after Indonesian hybrid. Originally thought to be papillilaminum x dressleri but now disputed.
f11st filial generationAt the highest level, its the first generation of offspring from plants that have been successfully crossed. Selfed plants (see entry) can be called s1 (see entry) or f1. I have a blog on this planned but the terms are not used consistently so my advice is, if you want to know whether a plant is a self, ask.
FSFort ShermanA papillilaminum clone named for the area where the it was originally found
Generative propagation
A means of creating more plants by pollinating and producing seeds. Plants from seed are less likely to look like the parent plant(s) than plants from cuttings (vegetative propagation - see entry).
Geniculum
In Araceae in particular this refers to the 'shoulder' of the petiole - a slightly swollen bend, just before the petiole joins the leaf. This geniculum allows the leaf to move in response to changing light sources.
Goliath
An Indonesian hybrid, also known as Darkest Panama
Grower's choice
Plants sold from a batch where you don't get to pick your own. It's literally the grower's choice of which one you're sent. I only use grower's choice for germinated seeds and seedlings with a leaf of two that aren't yet showing traits. I send the strongest of the seedlings available.
Guttation
Water droplets that are secreted from the pores of a plant. Most notably in anthurium, the droplets can accumulate on the tip of the leaf. Without sufficient air flow this can cause browning.
Hybrid
An offspring resulting from the pollen from one plant being applied to the inflorescence of another plant of a different species or hybrid. In terms of the naming convention for anthurium, the seed parent (see entry) is named first followed by the pollen parent (see entry). Where there is a complex hybrid you can see lots of pairs of parentheses ( ), brackets [ ] and braces { } used. You might also see a capital X separating the seed parent from the pollen parent. As we get more and more complex hybrids we're going to need much bigger plant labels. And some new punctuation.
For example, a hybrid written as (crystallinum x carlablackiae) x (dressleri x [forgetii x papillilaminum]) tells us that the seed parent was a hybrid of crystal x carla. The pollen parent was a more complex hybrid. Its seed parent was a dressleri and its pollen parent was a forgetii x pap. So, very roughly, the hybrid we started with is one quarter crystallinum, carlablackiae and dressleri and one eighth forgetii and pap. Clear? Excellent.
Inflorescence

The structure of a plant that contains its flowers, spathe, spadix and peduncle (see entries)
Infructescence
The structure of plant that holds its fruits. When an inflorescence (see entry) has been successfully pollinated and is growing berries it can be called an infructescence.
Intersectional
With regard to plants, a hybrid where the seed parent (see entry) is in a different section (see entry) to the pollen parent (see entry)
Intraspecific
A cross made between different plants of the same species
Involute vernation
Where new leaves unroll lengthways from both margins into the midrib (see entry). For example, Anthurium spectabile unfurls leaves this way. Compare with convolute vernation and see separate entry on vernation.
ISOIn Search OfUsually on a social media post by someone stalking their wish list plant
ITIndo TypeOften seen used with other species or hybrid names (e.g. carlablackiae IT and AOS IT). It is used to show plants that may look like similar to the named plant but are most likely complex hybrids. 
Lateral vein
The veins that branch off from the plant's main vein or mid rib (see entry)
LECALightweight Expanded Clay AggregateA semi-hydro substrate (see entry) in which some people grow their plants (can also be added to other mixes for aeration)
Mid rib
The main vein that usually runs down the centre of the leaf blade
Node
The part of the stem from which leaves emerge. It's particularly relevant when it comes to vegetative propagating (see separate entry).
NOIDno IDA plant whose species or hybrid is unknown. N.B. I pronounce it 'no ID' but I know people who say 'noid', to rhyme with 'Lloyd', which I find utterly charming.
Nova
Indicates a species is recently found but not yet described (see entry)
OG[number]
OriginalI absolutely thought this stood for Original Gangsta or at least Original God? But no, it stands for Original (although a seed has been planted). It's the naming convention Scott Cohen (an well-respected US grower) uses for his select clones (see entry).
Open pollination AKA bench hybrid
Plants that have been pollinated naturally or accidentally and therefore the pollen parent (see entry) can't be identified
Pap or papiPapillilaminumA variable species of Anthurium
Peduncle

The structure connecting the inflorescence (see entry) to the main stem 
Petiole
The structure connecting the leaf to the main stem 
Phyto
Phytosanitary certificate
A certificate prepared for plants that are to be exported
Pollen parent

The plant whose pollen is applied to the seed parent when creating a cross (see 'seed parent'). Sometimes called the father. 
Pon
A Lechuza branded semi-hydro substrate (see entry) in which some people grow their plants 
PPPlant PassportUK plant health requirement for plants that are sent via the post (read more here)  
RA[number]Rory AntolakNames used for individual clones (see entry) belonging to renowned grower Rory Antolak
RLRalph LynamA papillilaminum clone named for an Anthurium collector 
RVDPRed Vein Dark PhoenixA sought after Indonesian hybrid
s11st selfed generation
Some growers label their selfed (see entry) plants' offspring as s1. A selfed s1 would be called s2 etc. (compare with f1)
Section
A taxonomic rank between genus and species. Anthurium will generally hybridise more easily if both parent plants are in the same section.
Seed parent

The first plant named in a cross. It’s the plant that bears the berries and produces the seeds. Sometimes called the mother.
Self / self-pollination

A plant where the parent plant’s flower was pollinated by its own pollen
Semi hydroponics (or passive hydroponics)

A method for growing plants in an inorganic, soil-free substrate with a reservoir
Sinus

The area between a leaf's lobes 
Sp.
SpeciesAn undescribed species (see ‘described’) or may be used as shorthand for the word species
Spadix

The spike that we see as the main part of the inflorescense on Anthurium (and other genera, notably in the Araceae family). The spadix is made up of many individual flowers.
Spathe

The leaf-like structure that encloses the spadix (see entry) in Anthurium and other genera, notably in the Araceae family
Substrate

Simply the medium a plant is potted in: moss or soil mix or semi hydro etc.
Taxonomy

The branch of science concerned with the classification of living things. All organisms (including us) are described at 7 levels: 

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

The mnemonic I learned in school was King Philip Came Over From Good Spain but I've since heard Kinky People Can Often Find Good Sex. The latter seems more memorable.

TCTissue culture (or sometimes Monstera Thai Constellation)Sometimes called micropropagation, this is the specialised propagation of a plant via small cell samples. A plant that has been tissue cultured should share the same genetic makeup of the mother plant. They are therefore more likely to look like the mother plant than propagations by seed / generative propagation (see entry).
Undescribed
A plant that has not yet been described by a botanist before being published in an academic journal and so it has a placeholder name (see described)
Variegation

The appearance of different colours in a plant, usually on a leaf. This can be stable (think about the leaf on a calathea). Or it can be caused by a genetic mutation or virus or another pathogen. Generally this type is less stable.
Vegetative propagation

A means of creating more plants by taking cuttings. Plants from cuttings will be clones and share the same genes as the original plant. They are therefore more likely to look like the mother plant than propagations by seed / generative propagation (see entry).
Vernation
The arrangement of a leaf in the bud (from the word 'vernal' which means fresh or like spring - don't you love that?). See separate entries for involute and for convolute vernation.