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Questions tagged [terminology]

For questions about using the correct terminology

Use this tag for questions about using the correct terminology: eg. What is the correct name or phrase that describes a particular type of plant, part of plant, process, etc.

49 questions
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What is the difference between a spade and a shovel?

I was just reading this article, When would I prefer a shovel with a rounded blade over one with a pointed blade?. The answers said something like, "That's a spade not a shovel". So what is the difference between a spade and a shovel?
Coomie
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What is it called when picking the produce the farmers are not collecting?

Recently I've found an association that collects the produce the farmers are not picking and gives it to charities. Many times, the farmers are not picking the fruits or vegetables they grow because it's not worth it. The market price is too low so…
Fructibus
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What is the meaning of "leaves do not run down the stem" when identifying plants?

I have some comfrey in the garden. I am trying to work out whether it is white comfrey or another comfrey. For white comfrey I have read: "leaves are more rounded than in other comfreys and do not run down the stem." What is the meaning of the…
John Nygate
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What is the name for a weed-eater head with metal or plastic blades?

I am looking for a weed-eater head that does not have any plastic thread spool or ongoing feeder. It should have metal or sturdy plastic blades that don't wear away quickly? I am (a) sick of having to deal with spooling problems and fixing the feed…
zipquincy
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What gardening terms are common sources of confusion between different cultures or languages?

Until I read questions such as Square meter gardening Soil Mix, I thought of compost being composted organic material; however, there compost is composed of 50% peat moss, which generally doesn't fall under that definition. Suspecting a difference…
anderas
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What's the valid term for a “base” for plants?

In case of some plants you can take their cuttings to multiply them. The cuttings are put in the ground directly, so you can have multiple seedlings based on one plant. You can have dozens of plants which are used for this process. Boxwood or…
Emil A.
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What makes a plant deer resistant?

Every so often I see plants advertised as being "deer resistant". I can understand when flowers are marked as attracting butterflies or hummingbirds, since that can be determined by the shape of the flowers. But how does a plant get marked as deer…
The Flash
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What are the differences that can be apparent between vines and creepers?

The terms 'vines' and 'creepers' are used frequently in plant descriptions. They both have flexible growth and cannot support themselves in an upright habit. A simple image search brings almost identical results. (vines and creepers) And from…
J. Musser
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Why are blackberry plants typically named for Native American tribes?

Whenever I see blackberry plants for sale, it always seem like they're named for a native American tribe. There's Navaho, Apache, Arapaho, Kiowa. The only ones I know of that don't follow this trend are the triple crown blackberries. Is there a…
The Flash
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What's the difference between corms, bulbs, and tubers?

Some plants, such as tulips, daffodils, and onions, grow from bulbs. Others, such as crocosmia, gladiolus, and taro, grow from corms. And then there are tuberous plants, such as potatoes, dahlias, and begonias. These are the most common underground…
J. Musser
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What is short litter and how is it made?

A book I'm reading on creating hotbeds recommends mixing "short litter" with the fresh manure as the base of the beds. I've also seen websites recommending using grass cuttings or a good short litter as mulch. What materials are short litter in…
otn
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Is corn a fruit or a vegetable or a nut?

I've been debating with my friends whether or not corn kernels are considered to be fruits or vegetables or nuts. To my knowledge, a fruit is defined as "an over ripened ovum" of a plant's seed. A vegetable is part of a plant that is eaten but not…
Throsby
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Need Help Finding a Botija Olive Tree

For several years I have enjoyed the olives of a type of tree from Peru called a Botija olive tree. The olives are cured only by drying them, which seems to remove almost all the bitterness. They are marketed in small bottles or bags by several…
Chris Jenks
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How did black-eyed Susans get their name?

Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed Susans, are a native wildflower here in the US. Typically, when it comes to naming animals and plants, their common names stem from either the name of the person who discovered it, where it was found, or…
The Flash
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What is the term for this pruning technique that causes stubby, clublike branches?

These Platanus × acerifolia trees (London Planetree) were pruned to have this short, stubby branch structure. What is this called, and how is is done?
J. Musser
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