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raceme

An unbranched, elongated inflorescence with pedicellate flowers maturing from the bottom upward i.e., flowers attached to the main stem by short stalks.

A raceme of Hebe stricta. Photographer: Tony Foster

rachis

The axis of an inflorescence or of a compound leaf.

Rachis of nikau. Photographer: Tony Foster

ray

An outer ring of strap-like florets in the head of Asteraceae (daisy) flowers.

Ray on Olearia furfuracea. Photographer: Tony Foster

recurved

Curved backward.

Recurved as illustrated by Cordyline pumilio. Photographer: Tony Foster
Recurved foliage of matai. Photographer: Tony Foster

reflexed

Bent back on itself.

re-introduction

Translocating wild or cultivated individuals to sites where the taxon has been known to occur in the past, but from which it has disappeared.

reniform

Kidney shaped.

Leaf showing a reniform (kidney) shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison
Kidney shaped leaves of kidney fern. Photographer: Tony Foster

repand

With a slightly wavy margin.

The wavy margin of Brachyglottis repanda (rangiora). Photographer: Tony Foster

replum

The outer structure of a pod in which the valves have dehisced (persists after the opening of the fruit).

Replum Carmichaeilia. Photographer: Tony Foster

restiad

Area dominated by rush-like plants (collectively known as restiads) of the family Restionaceae. Includes Chatham Island and North Island Sporodanthus and oioi (Apodasmia similis).

retrorse

Pointing backward.

Myosotidium hortensium. Photographer: Tony Foster

retuse

A shallow notch at the rounded or blunt apex of a leaf.

A retuse leaf tip. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison

rhizomatous

With underground creeping stems.

rhizome

An underground stem (usually spreading horizontallly or creeping) or short and erect.

Rhizome of Ficinia spiralis. Photographer: Tony Foster

rhombic

Diamond-shaped.

rhomboid

Diomond shaped, nearly rhombic.

Leaf showing a diamond shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison
Diamond shape on Halocarpus kirkii. Photographer: Tony Foster

riparian

Relating to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (as a river) or sometimes of a lake or a tidewater.

Riparian vegetation. Photographer: Tony Foster

riparian margin

Refers to the edges of streams, rivers,lakes or other waterways.

Riparian margin. Photographer: Tony Foster

riparian plants

Refers to plants found growing near the edges of streams, rivers or other waterways.

riparian zone

A strip of land next to streams, rivers, and lakes where there is a transition from terrestrial (land vegetation) to aquatic (water) vegetation. Also known as “berm”.

riverine

Pertaining to rivers, streams and such like flowing water systems.

rootstock

A short, erect, underground stem.

rosette

A radiating cluster of leaves.

A rosette of Celmisia spectabilis. Photographer: Tony Foster
A rosette of Cordyline pumilio. Photographer: Tony Foster

rostellum

In orchids, a modified stigma that prevents self-fertilisation.

Rostellum of an orchid flower. Photographer: Tony Foster

rosulate

A dense radiating cluster of leaves.

rugose

Wrinkled.

The rugose foliage of Elatostema rugosa. Photographer: Tony Foster

rugulose

Having small wrinkles.

runner

A trailing stem that roots at the nodes.

rupestral

Growing on rocks.

Peperomia tetraphylla growing on rocks. Photographer: Tony Foster

rushes

A group of distinctive wetland plants. They have solid stems (grasses have hollow stems), true rushes Juncus sp. have rounded leaves.

rhizoid

Any of various slender filaments that function as roots in mosses and ferns and fungi.

runcinate

Sharply pinnatifid or cleft, the segments directed downward.

A runcinate leaf shape. Photographer: Illustration by Sue Wickison
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