| TERM | GROUP | DEFINITION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LABRUM (LABRA) | N | ANIMALS | Pronunciation: Etymology: The labrum is the anterior-most lip of arthropods and the outer margin of some gastropod shells. |
| LAMINARIN | N | PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Laminarin is a photosynthetic storage product of phaeophytes. |
| LAMINATE CHLOROPLAST | NP | PLANTS, PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Laminate chloroplasts are long and flat (laminar) in form. |
| LARVA (LARVAE) | N | ANIMALS | Click here |
| LATERAL GENE TRANSFER | NP | EVOLUTION | Pronunciation: Etymology: Lateral Gene Transfer is the movement of genes from one cell to another by the uptake of environmental DNA or movement by virus particles. This is particularly important in prokaryotes where the phenomenon is called transformation. |
| LATEX | ADJ OR N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: A juice produced by special cells in certain plants. Usually milky. |
| LEAF | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: A leaf is a specialized appendage that grows from a stem, and usually is the primary photosynthetic organ. Such appendages are of three types: enations, microphylls, and macrophylls (=megaphylls). |
| LEGUME | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Two valved fruit formed from a single carpel in most members of the leguminosae. |
| LEPTOID | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Specialized nutrient-carrying cells found in bryophytes. May have been the precursor vascular tissue. |
| LEPTOSPORANGIUM (LEPROSPORANGIA) | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: A leptosporangium is a small, usually stalked, sporangium that develops from a single superficial cell. Contrast this with a eusporangium. |
| LEUCOSIN | N | PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: See chrysolaminarin. |
| LICHENIZED | ADJ | FUNGI | |
| LICHEN | N | FUNGI | |
| LIFE CYCLE | N | Click here | |
| LIGNIFIED | ADJ | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Lignified (adj) refers to cell walls, usually those of xylem and fiber cells, in which the cellulose wall is impregnated with lignin, a substance that serves to glue and stiffen the cellulose walls. |
| LIGULE | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Ligules are small leaf-like appendages in the axils of certain microphyll-bearing plants. |
| LITHOTROPHIC | ADJ | ECOLOGY | Pronunciation: Etymology: Lithotrophic (adj.) refers to autotrophic organisms, usually those that use the energy of organic or inorganic compounds in making food. |
| LOBOSE | ADJ | PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Lobose (adj.) usually refers to the rounded shape of certain pseudopods. |
| LOCULE | N | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: A compartment of an ovary or an anther. |
| LONGITUDINAL LAMELLA (LONGITUDINAL LAMELLAE) | NP | PLANTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: Thin sheets of cells usually standing perpendicular to the surface of a leaf. |
| LOPHOPHORE | N | ANIMALS | Click here |
| LORICA (LORICAS OR LORICAE) | N | ANIMALS, PLANTS, PROTISTS | Pronunciation: Etymology: A lorica is a covering that occurs outside of the cell membrane. It is secreted by the cell and usually is organic. Loricas do not completely enclose the cell. Periplasts, structures similar to loricas do enclose the cell. Lorica stands for armour. |
