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early successional species

Plants which are able to colonise an open area after disturbance but which are often temporary and are replaced by taller plants in time and shaded out.

echinate

Having sharply pointed spines or bristles.

Sharply pointed spines on the seed heads of Entelea arborescens (whau). Photographer: Tony Foster

ecological district

A characteristic landscape and biological community defined in the PNA (Protected Natural Area) programme.

ecological restoration

Attempt to reinstate original (pre-disturbance) state of a habitat, plant community or ecosystem.

ecosourced

Plants sourced from seed collected from similar naturally growing plants in the area of the planting site.

ecosourcing

Using native plants grown from locally grown seeds. Eco-sourced plants help to preserve the ecological distinctiveness of an area, and ecosourced plants fare better and are adapted to survive in the local conditions.

eglandular

Without glands.

ellipsoid

Elliptic in long section and circular in cross-section.

Ellipsoid fruit of Rhopalostylus sapida (nikau). Photographer: Tony Foster

elliptic

Broadest at the middle.

Illustration of elliptic leaf. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison

emarginate

With a notch at the apex.

Leaf with an emarginate tip. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison

emarginated

Having a shallow notch at the tip, as in some petals and leaves.

emergent

In an aquatic sense - wetland herbs that are rooted in the substrate below water level, but carry leaves and stems above the water level e.g. rushes and raupo. Found on the shallow margins of lakes, ponds and waterways. In a forest sense - tree that is appearing above the surrounding canopy.

Emergent Metrosideros robusta (northern rata). Photographer: Tony Foster
Wetland emergents. Photographer: Tony Foster

emergent marginals

An aquatic plant having most of its structure above water. Other aquatic plants are submerged or floating.

endemic

Unique or confined to a place or region, found naturally nowhere else.

endosperm

The nutritive tissue of a seed, consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

enrichment planting

Returning to a revegetation site and creating gaps, or filling existing gaps, with different plants of plants, usually later successional plants which may not have survived being planted in the first phases of the project.

ensiform

Sword shaped.

Sword shaped foliage of xeronema callistemon (Poor Knight’s lily). Photographer: Tony Foster
Ensiform leaf shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison

entire

Smooth. Without teeth, notches or divisions.

Leaves of Corynocarpus laevigatus (karaka) without teeth. Photographer: Tony Foster
Illustration of entire leaf edge. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison

entomophilous

Pollinated by insects.

Astelia being pollinated by insects. Photographer: Tony Foster

epicalyx

Calyx–like structure outside, but close to, the true calyx.

epiphyte

A plant that grows upon another plant but is not parasitic and does not draw nourishment from it.

Epiphytic orchid. Photographer: Tony Foster
Epiphytic perching lily. Photographer: Tony Foster

epiphytic

Growing upon another plant but not parasitic and not drawing nourishment it.

erose

Irregularly toothed, as if gnawed.

Illustration of erose leaf. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison

estuarine

Pertaining to the meeting of freshwater and seawater wetlands.

ethnobotany

The study of people’s classification, management and use of plants.

evanescent

Lasting a very short time or running a short distance.

ex situ

Away from the place of natural occurrence.

excurrent

Having the axis prolonged to form an undivided main stem or trunk (as in conifers).

Agathis australis - the extended, undivided main trunk. Photographer: Tony Foster

ex-situ

Maintenance of plants as live specimens or propagules in cultivation as insurance against the loss of wild populations and as source for material for translocation.

extravaginal

Outside an enclosing sheath.

endophyte

An endosymbiont (usually a bacterium or fungus) that lives within a plant for at least part of its life without causing any apparent disease.

endophytes

Endosymbionts (usually bacteria or fungi) that live within plants for at least part of their lives without causing any apparent disease.

eusporangia

Sporangia that arise from groups of epidermal cells.

epigeal

Growing on or close to the ground or emerging from the ground after germination (often used for cotyledons).

elaiosome

Fleshy, oil-rich structure attached to seed that attracts ants which act as dispersers.

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