deciduous
Marked leaflessness in winter, and greater than 90% leaves lost by beginning of spring flush.
decrescent
Diminishing.
decurved
Curved downward.
dehiscence
The time of opening at maturity to release the contents, e.g., a capsule releasing the seeds.
dehiscent
Splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit).
deltoid
Shaped broadly like an equilateral triangle.
denticulate
Having a very finely toothed margin.
digitiform
Finger-like.
diploid
With two complete sets of chromosomes in each cell.
disarticulating
Separating at a joint.
disjunct
A species or other taxonomic group that occupies areas that are widely separated and scattered and therefore have a discontinuous distribution.
domatia
Small structures on the lower surface of a leaf in some woody dicotyledons, located in the axils of the primary veins and usually consisting of depressions partly enclosed by leaf tissue or hairs.
dorsal
Of the back or outer surface relative to the axis. (cf. ventral).