Carpel

A female reproductive unit of a flower, consisting of an Ovary, to which is attached one, or more, elongated features called a Style and each of these are terminated by a Stigma. The collective name for carpel is Gynaecium.

  Chlorophyll

A green pigment within plant cells, called chloroplasts, which absorbs light and is central to the process of photosynthesis.

  Chloroplast

A specialist cell, which contains chlorophyll, and where the process of photosynthesis occurs.

  Chlorosis

The inability of a plant to produce green pigment. This may be caused by numerous conditions, including nutrient deficiency, soil pH affecting nutrient availability, soil waterlogging, or a disease infection. Chlorosis results in a pale coloured leaf: either a green-yellowing, and various shades of this to yellow.

  Chlorotic

The term used to describe the appearance of a leaf suffering from Chlorosis.

  Cold Acclimation

A plants ability to develop resistance to cold and freezing stress. There is a gradual build-up of carbohydrates, typically in basal parts, over the autumn period as growth slows and cold weather increases. This allows a plant to acclimatise to the coming winter.

  Coleoptile

A protective sheet for the plumule as it initially extends, and which it then splits for the plumule to grow further.

  Coleorhiza

A protective sheath of the radicle, which will eventually burst through the sheath.

  Corolla

The collective term for the petals on a flower.

  Cotyledon

The seed leaf in the embryo, consisting of a coleoptile and a scutellum.