Glossary

A sample of a plant variety collected from a specific location

The period of time that a particular plant has its most active growth or the main time of growth for a plant.

A highly competitive species that can take over if the environmental conditions are right.

Of or related to the science of soil management and the production of crops.

Any soil with a pH above 7 on a scale of 1 to 14; the higher the number, the more alkaline the soil.

The ability to withstand alkaline soils.

The condition of having a pH greater than 7 on a scale of 1 to 14; the higher the number, the greater the alkalinity

Rock, soil and other sediments deposited from erosion that creates a slope.

A trade organization that focuses on the development of better seed through regulation, technology, and communication. Membership in this organization includes companies that are involved in seed production and distribution, plant breeding, and related industries in North America.

A plant that that completes its entire life cycle from seed through blooming and the development of seed in one year.

Acronym for the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies.

The region north of the Arctic Circle.

Human intervention in plant reproduction to ensure that certain desired characteristics are found in successive generations.

An organization comprised of official federal, state and university seed laboratories and whose primary function is to establish uniform rules for seed testing.

An organization dedicated to regulating the production, identification, distribution and promotion of certified classes of seed and other crop propagation materials.

Acronym for the American Seed Trade Association.

The area that the base or stem of the plant covers on the surface of the soil.

Any soil with a pH above 7 on a scale of 1 to 14; the higher the number, the more basic the soil.

As used in the Granite Seed website, it refers to a project that emphasizes the use of wildflowers in a revegetation project.

A plant which completes its life cycle in two years. Usually, it produces leaves and roots the first year and then blooms and produces seed the second year.

Bloat is the swelling of the digestive tract or rumen of a grazing animal resulting from excess gas production from eating certain legumes and green forage. Non-bloat refers to plants that do not cause this swelling.

A leaf-like structure occurring at the base of a flower and are frequently colorful, as in poinsettias or flowering dogwoods.

The stock seed produced by the breeder of a cultivar and from which foundation seed is produced.

A method of seeding that involves scattering seed on the surface of the soil. Contrast to drill seeding whereby seed is placed at a precise spacing and depth.

(noun) Shrubs, trees, or herbs eaten by grazing animals. (verb) The act of eating shrubs, trees and/or herbs.

A term used in the seed industry that refers to a pound of seed that does not take into account its purity and germination. A bulk pound is synonymous to a 16-ounce pound. Contrast to a ‘pure live seed pound’ which takes into account the seed’s purity and germination.

A grass that grows in clumps or bunches and has no prominent rhizomes or stolons in contrast to grass that forms a mat or turf.

Soil that is rich in calcium carbonate, usually derived from limestone or other calcium-rich parent material.

A kind of soil that was formed from the deposit of crystalline salts, such as sodium chloride or sodium nitrate and form a hard cemented layer of soil.

Refers to the group of sepals, or leaves, making up the flower.

Seed that is produced, harvested, cleaned and tested under the regulations and supervision of a seed certifying entity such as members of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. The term is also used when referring to fourth generation seed produced from foundation seed. For more information, see the Certified Seed section in the Technical Guidelines section of the Granite Seed web site.

The part of a cell (or organelle) that converts a compound to a pigment.

A stage in ecological development in which a community of organisms is stable (less likely to change over time) and capable of perpetuating itself.

A group of plants that are genetically identical and have descended from a single common ancestor, such as a grove of aspen trees.

A general definition describing a plant’s ability to withstand temperatures below freezing.

A plant that is easily damaged from temperatures below freezing.

The simultaneous demand by two or more organisms for limited environmental resources, such as nutrients, living space, or light.

Obvious to the eye.

A plant that completes most of its growth during the cooler periods of spring and fall. Contrast to warm season plant.

A government employee who serves as a consultant and advisor on such subjects as agriculture, education and home economics. Easily found by contacting a college or university.

A crop of plants that are planted for temporary purposes such as to provide erosion control and protection to establishing perennials. Cover crops may also be used to improve soil condition by plowing under and incorporating into the soil profile.

A plant that is cultivated for a particular purpose.

An estimation of the nutritional protein content of the plant calculated by determining its nitrogen content and multiplying that figure by 6.25. Referred to as ‘crude protein’ because this calculation does not take into account the non-protein nitrogen content of the plant, which is a minor portion of the total protein.

The base of the stem on a plant.

A cultivated plant that is clearly distinguishable from other plants of the same species by one or more traits and when reproduced will retain those traits.

The most recent date that a seed lot has been tested for total seed viability (germination + dormant or hard seed).

A plant that sheds its foliage each year at the end of the growing season. Contrast with an evergreen plant which retains its foliage throughout the year.

Refers to a plant’s culms growing in very dense bunches.

A plant whose flowering stem terminates in a flower and blooming in a sequence that begins with the uppermost flower. Also, see ‘indeterminate plant.’

The degree to which a plant material is able to be broken down and utilized by an animal.

A plant species whose male and female organs occur on different plants. Contrast with monoecious.

An organism with a full set of paired chromosomes, one chromosome from each parental set.

The ability to resist certain diseases. This characteristic is frequently sought after in plant breeding.

The percent of the number of seeds, other than hard seed, that fail to germinate, but is determined to be viable by subjecting them to other seed testing techniques. Dormant seed is generally considered to be seed that will germinate at a later date than seed reported in the % germination calculation.

A method of seeding that uses a seed drill to place seeds at a specific depth and spacing. Contrast with broadcast seeding which involves scattering the seed on the surface of the soil.

A general and relative term used to describe a plant’s ability to withstand prolonged periods without water. Synonymous to drought hardy.

A variety of a plant that has been altered to make it shorter than the original plant.

The functional role an organism or population within a community or ecosystem including the resources it uses, how and when it uses the resources and how it interacts with other species and populations.

A geographic area of relative homogeneity characterized by distinct ecological factors such as climate, topography, soils, plants and animals.

A functional unit consisting of the living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) in a given area, and all the non-living physical and chemical factors of their environment, linked together through nutrient cycling and energy flow. An ecosystem can be of any size i.e. a log, pond, field, forest, or the earth’s biosphere, but it always functions as a whole unit

The process of recreating the natural ecosystem in an area that has been disturbed.

A population within a species which is genetically adapted to a habitat that is different from other habitats in which other populations of the same species is found.

The term used in seed certification referring to crops that have been approved by state, federal or international review boards to enter into the seed certification program

Refers to the absence of a group of fungi found in certain grasses and are toxic to grazing animals. Endophytes are especially troublesome in tall fescue. Be sure to plant endophyte-free tall fescue if your objective grazing.

The state of a plant when it is adjusted to the site and is thriving.

A plant that retains its foliage throughout the year. Contrast with a deciduous plant which sheds its foliage each year at the end of the growing season.

The process of responding to conditions conducive to growth in the fall resulting in a return to active growth.

A root system comprised of many small, sinewy and widely spread roots and lacking a taproot.

(noun) Food for grazing and browsing animals. (verb) The act of obtaining food by grazing and browsing animals.

A herbaceous plant that is not a grass, grass-like or woody. It is a broad-leaved herb.

This is seed that is produced from Breeder seed. Foundation seed is typically second-generation seed. However, in the event there is an inadequate quantity of Breeder seed available for multiplying the variety, the certifying agency can designate seed grown on a foundation field as Foundation seed

An ecosystem that is fully self-perpetuating without requiring management inputs from man to maintain its stability.

A plant species adapted to site conditions (e.g., has good establishment, vigor, and reproductive capabilities), sufficiently diverse to respond to changing climates and environment conditions, unlikely to cause genetic contamination and undermine local adaptations, community interactions, and function of native species in the ecosystem; unlikely to become invasive and displace other native species, unlikely to be a source of non-native, invasive pathogens; likely to maintain critical connections with pollinators.

Germination is the percent of the number of seeds that, when tested, will develop from the seed embryo the essential structures necessary to produce a normal plant under favorable conditions.

A plant that resembles a grass but it is not a true grass. For example, sedges are grass-like plants.

A crop that is grown and then tilled into the soil before it flowers to increase soil fertility and organic material content.

A term used to describe the initial period of plant growth.

The sum total of all environmental factors in the physical place occupied by an organism, population or community.

Any changes made to a habitat that serves to improve its value and ability to meet the requirements of one of more organisms.

Hard seed is the percent of the number of seeds that remain hard at the end of the testing period because they have not absorbed water because of an impermeable seed coat. Hard seed is generally considered to be seed that will germinate at a later date than seed reported in the % germination calculation.

Grass and other plants such as alfalfa or clover that are cut and cured for use as animal feed.

A fine-grained soil that is high in clay and/or silt content.

Usually refers to desert regions that experience cold winters.

Plants from which nectar and pollen are collected by bees in order to make honey.

The offspring of genetically dissimilar parents. Hybrids are usually the result of crossing two species with different desirable characteristics for the purpose of creating offspring that would possess more of the desirable characteristics. Hybrids may also be created naturally without man’s influence.

A plant resulting from the crossbreeding between two different species.

The act of creating a hybrid

A plant whose flowering stem continues to grow and bear new flowers throughout its flowering period thereby resulting in flowers in all stages of development (from flower initiation to seed set) occurring on the same plant. The flowering sequence begins on the lowermost flowers. Also, see the definition for ‘determinate plant.’

The percent weight of the sample that is not viable seed. It can include plant parts, broken seeds or other materials that are not viable seeds.

A cluster of flowers segregated from other flowers on the same plant.

A plant species that was not originally part of the plant community in which it is found

A non-native plant that is likely to cause environmental harm or harm to human health.

Pasture that has a current supply of supplemental water.

The creation of an ecosystem that is substantially different ecologically from the endemic ecosystem yet is compatible with existing land-use practices, such as grazing, recreation, or supplemental irrigation.

The establishment of an ecosystem that is ecologically reminiscent of, but not representative of, the pre-disturbance ecosystem, including native and/or introduced species that are similar in ecological structure and function to species native to the site.

The re-creation of conditions that would allow the ecosystem to return to the characteristics that are ecologically representative of those prior to the land disturbance.

As used in the Granite Seed Project Planner, land revegetation encompasses ‘land restoration’ (the re-creation of conditions that would allow the ecosystem to return to the characteristics that are ecologically representative of those prior to the land disturbance), and ‘land rehabilitation’ (the establishment of an ecosystem that is ecologically reminiscent of, but not representative of, the pre-disturbance ecosystem, including native and/or introduced species that are similar in ecological structure and function to species native to the site).

Round shaped blemish occurring on the leaves of some plants that are caused by parasitic fungi or bacteria.

Any plant belonging to the legume (Leguminosae, formerly named Fabaceae) family. This family is also known as the pea family. Legumes have special interest to revegetation specialists because they fix nitrogen into the soil thereby reducing the need for adding fertilizers.

Of or characteristic of the legume family.

Soil that has formed from limestone and as a result has a high soil pH.

Plant material that is the same species as plant material naturally occurring at the site and whose origin is from the region where it is being planted. It may be wildland-harvested, pre-varietal, or variety/cultivar plant material as long as the first generation of plant material came from the region where it is being planted.

Planting one or more species close together. Often done to reduce maintenance or obtain a visually dramatic effect.

A site that has a moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture.

A mixture of rocks, rock fragments, soil and other natural materials that result from surface mining operations.

A plant species whose male and female parts are found on the same plant but on different flowers. Contrast with dioecious.

A division of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) that review applications for entering varieties into the certified seed program.

A plant species naturally found in the particular area in question.

An introduced species that can consistently reproduce and sustain populations over successive generations without human intervention, and can coexist with other members of the ecosystem without becoming invasive.

Plant material that is the same species as that occurring at the site but that does not originate from the region targeted for use

Bloat is the swelling of the digestive tract or rumen of a grazing animal resulting from excess gas production from eating certain legumes and green forage. Non-bloat refers to plants that do not cause this swelling.

Those plant species designated as noxious weeds by the Secretary of Agriculture or by the responsible state representative. Noxious weeds generally possess one or more of the following characteristics: aggressive and difficult to manage, poisonous, toxic, parasitic, a carrier or host of seriously destructive diseases or insects,

Annuals or short-term perennials established as a companion crop to provide rapid soil stabilization to assist in the establishment of a more permanent plant community.

A plant that’s grown for its beauty and aesthetic value.

Sowing seeds in an area, where other plants are already growing, to promote new growth or fill gaps in the existing vegetation.

Land that is used for livestock grazing that is managed to provide feed.

Managing pasture to increase feed value for grazing animals while maintaining or improving soil, water, and vegetative resources.

Herbaceous or woody plant species that lives a few years (short-lived perennial) or longer. It could be an evergreen species or one that goes dormant each year. Dormant perennials renew themselves from underground rootstocks.

A classification system used for describing acid and basic materials. The system is a scale from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Measurements below 7 indicate increasing acidity and numbers greater than 7 indicate increasing alkalinity (basic conditions).

In successional theory, they are the species that are the first to naturally colonize a previously unoccupied habitat.

Taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differ from others of the same species in traits that are identifiable and heritable.

Provides those who develop a new variety with patent-like rights that protect the reproduction and use of the variety.

A division of the USDA, located in Beltsville, MD and responsible for administering the Plant Variety Protection Act.

The acronym for pure live seed.

Plant material that exhibits characteristics of a variety but has not been definitively proven to have traits that can be inherited by subsequent generations. It is usually material that is undergoing testing and awaiting conclusions. It may be field produced or harvested from natural stands. Synonymous to Selected Class

The establishment of plants on land that has not been previously vegetated, such as land that has been created from a volcanic eruption.

Weeds that the USDA or state agencies have designated as prohibited from sale. Seeds that are designated as Prohibited must be completely absent from seed lots that are to be used in the prohibited area. See the State Noxious Weed Seed list located on this site under Technical Guidelines, Seed Labeling.

Abbreviated (PLS, is a measure used by the seed industry to describe the percentage of a quantity of seed that will germinate. PLS is obtained by multiplying the purity percentage by the percentage of total viable seed, then dividing by 100.

The percent weight of the entire sample of each seed species or variety that is present in excess of 5% of the total.

Synonym for Plant Variety Protection.

A long inflorescence with individual flowers borne on short, unbranched side stalks off a larger central stalk.

Any practice designed to improve rangeland condition or facilitate more efficient utilization of the range.

Land on which the historic climax plant community is predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs. Includes lands revegetated naturally or artificially when routine management of that vegetation is accomplished mainly through manipulation of grazing. Rangelands include natural grasslands, savannas, shrublands, most deserts, tundra, alpine communities, coastal marshes, and wet meadows.

Any practice designed to improve rangeland condition or facilitate more efficient utilization of the range.

Seed that has been produced from Foundation Seed. It is typically third generation seed.

Plant material that has been made available to the public after approval by officials in the public or private sectors. It may be either a variety/cultivar or a pre-variety germplasm; be either local native, non-local native, or introduced in origin; originate from either a single location or multiple locations; and be developed using the plant breeding techniques of hybridization and artificial selection for certain performance characteristics (“genetically manipulated”)or without such techniques (“natural”).

A weed that has been identified by state regulators as a threat to the environment if it occurs in relatively dense stands. Seeds from restricted noxious weeds are permitted to be sold, but only in small quantities. For the number of seeds of restricted weeds that are permitted in seed lots see the State Noxious Weed Seed List in the Seed Labeling section of the Technical Guidelines section of this website.

Bearing rhizomes.

Horizontally growing stems, usually underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes.

An area of land adjacent to a stream, river, lake or wetland that contains vegetation that, due to the presence of water, is distinctly different from the vegetation of adjacent upland areas.

Generic term for various plant diseases, especially those caused by a group of parasitic fungi that attack the leaves and stems of plants.

Soil on which plant growth is usually dominated by salt tolerant plants, or void of any vegetation, and which, because of its high salt concentration, is problematic for agriculture.

Plant that thrives in saline soils.

Plant establishment into a recently disturbed habitat that was previously vegetated. See succession and primary succession.

Grass-like plants of the Cyperaceae family, often found on wet ground or in water, usually with triangular, solid stems, three rows of narrow, pointed leaves and minute flowers borne in spikelets.

The inability of a healthy seed to germinate under favorable conditions unless strategies are used by natural or artificial means to break the dormancy.

A method of pre-treating seeds to simulate natural conditions that a seed must endure before germination to allow the seed to overcome seed dormancy.

A legal document describing the contents of a seed lot and the party responsible for providing this information.

A document describing the contents of a seed sample. Information includes species name, variety, percent seed purity, which includes pure seed of tested species, other crop seed, weed seed and inert material percentages. Also included are the seed viability (percent germination, dormant and hard seed) and the names of any weed or crop seeds.

The quantity of harvestable seed produced.

Those seedling properties which determine the potential for the plant to continue its growth toward maturation under a wide range of field conditions.

Plant material that exhibits characteristics of a variety but has not been definitively proven to have traits that can be inherited by subsequent generations. It is usually material that is undergoing testing and awaiting conclusions. It may be field produced or harvested from natural stands

The term used for each successional stage of an ecosystem from disturbed unvegetated states to a climax plant community.

The ability of a plant to tolerate slightly to fully shaded areas. Tolerance varies greatly by species.

The base of a grass leaf that surrounds the stem.

A woody perennial plant that is generally less than 10 feet tall and has several woody stems, none of which is dominant (unlike a tree that has a single stem). Under certain conditions some forbs become shrubs and some shrubs become trees.

Livestock feed that is typically stored for later use and is prepared by fermenting.

Seed from plants that originate from similar ecological conditions to those found at the site where they are being planted.

An organization that trains and provides accreditation of seed technologists, conducts research and proposes rule changes, and serves as an important resource to the seed industry.

A plant that covers the surface of the soil and is held together by a dense network of roots.

A soil that has high sodium content

The processes by which soil is removed from one place by forces such as the wind, water, waves, glaciers, and construction activity and eventually deposited at some new place.

Biological, chemical or mechanical treatment designed to improve or maintain the engineering properties of a mass of land.

A characteristic of soil that is determined by the amount of sand, silt, and clay in a particular soil. General texture designations include medium, fine (clayey), and coarse (sandy).

Seed that has been harvested from natural stands or grown in field production, but has not been tested for its traits. It is produced under the auspices of the state and if it meets the requirements it is labeled as Source Identified Seed.

The number of individuals in a given area.

Unable to produce viable seed.

A horizontal stem which grows along the surface of the soil and propagates vegetatively by forming new shoots and roots at its nodes.

A plant whose stem grows along the surface of the soil and propagates vegetatively by forming new shoots and roots at its nodes.

A group of individuals of the same species that have distinctive characteristics but that are not usually considered a different variety.

The area between the continuously forested montane zone and the high elevation alpine zone. It is characterized by a mixture of alpine and forest shrubs and herbs interspersed with patches of trees.

Seed that has gone through the certification process but has failed the minimum mechanical purity and germination requirements may be tagged as Substandard certified seed. Doing so is completely up to the state certifying agency and is considered on a lot-by-lot basis.

Succession is a directional non-seasonal cumulative change in the types of plant species that occupy a given area through time.

A plant that has a specialized fleshy tissue in roots, stems, or leaves for the conservation of water. Most succulents are plants preferring dry climates, such as cactus or aloe, but some are found in wetter climates adapted for living in salty soils where water retention is a problem.

The main, vertically extending root of a plant from which lateral roots grow. See fibrous root system.

The classification of plants into an ordered system that indicates natural relationships.

The area or region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle (in the northern hemisphere), or between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle (in the southern hemisphere).

The temporary binding or coating the soil with seed and/or erosion control products to protect the site from the erosive forces of wind and water. Temporary soil stabilization is used to reduce soil runoff from a disturbed site until a more permanent solution can be implemented.

Having four sets of chromosomes; usually designated as 4X or 4N.

A shoot of a plant, springing from the root or bottom of the original stalk.

Takes into account the seed germination, dormancy, and hard components.

The sum of percent germination, percent dormant and/or percent hard seed.

Woody perennial with a distinct central trunk.

Grass that is used for the purpose of establishing a lawn.

Stems that run under the ground allowing a plant to spread. These can also be called stolons.

Plants that grow beneath the canopy of other plants. For example, grasses, forbs, and shrubs growing under a tree are understory plants.

Non-migratory birds found in terrestrial habitats such as quail, pheasant, grouse, wild turkeys, etc.

See plant variety.

Seed that is able to germinate under favorable conditions. Viable seed includes seed that is dormant. See definition for total viable seed.

A plant that completes most of its growth during the warmer times of the year (summer).

The level below which the ground is completely saturated with water.

A plant out of place or growing where it is unwanted.

Percentage, by weight, of seed that is weed seed.

An area that is regularly saturated by surface water or groundwater and is characterized by a prevalence of vegetation that is adapted for life in saturated soil conditions (eg, swamps, bogs, fens, marshes, and estuaries).

A flowering plant found growing in a natural and uncultivated state.

Seed or plant material that was harvested from a native or introduced plant community on uncultivated land.

Plants used by wildlife and livestock in the winter as a source of browse.

The ability to survive winter weather in a particular region.

Of, characterized by, or adapted to an extremely dry environment.