Gymnospermae

The group (previously a Division, but more commonly now just referred to as a Clade, being unranked) of exposed-seed-bearing plants, in which the ovules are not enclosed within an ovary, within the Spermatophyte Clade (sometimes given as a superdivision). It is split into four Divisions: 1. Conifers (Pinophyta / Coniferophyta). 2. Cycads (Cycadophyta). 3. Ginkgo (Ginkgoales). 4. Gentophytes (Gnetophyta).

  Habitat

The place where an organism lives. A habitat can typically consist of several ecological niches. A micro-habitat might be considered a layer within a habitat canopy, for example, one organism may live at ground level, another halfway up a plant, whilst another may live in the higher canopy of a plant.

  Habitat Classification

The different physical characteristics of an area in which plants and animals live. Larger groupings are then divided into sub-groups. A habitat classification system is used for Phase 1 and Phase 2 surveys and can be grouped as follows: • Major habitat types / categories: Phase 1 = 10; Phase 2 = 12. • Habitat types / communities: Phase 1 = 155; Phase 2 = 286. • Total sub-communities: Phase 1 = Not applicable; Phase 2 = 578. Phase 1 classification (Major types) A. Woodland and scrub. B. Grassland and marsh. C. Tall herb and fen. D. Heathland. E. Mire. F. Swamp, m

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  Hand Shearing

The use of hand shears to cut awkward or small areas of relatively long grass which are not easily cut with the use of a mower or grass trimmer, or where it is not worth the effort of deploying a mower or trimmer to cut the grass. Hand shearing might typically be carried out on easily reached (by hand) embankments, around saplings or relatively newly planted trees.

  Handling and Searching for Plants

When looking for plants to identify or photograph there are a few important, but simple, safety precautions to take. Some plants, if touched or handled incorrectly, can cause physical injury, irritation and poisoning. If you are venturing into undergrowth it is important that you wear suitable clothing and PPE to protect your skin. Prickles, such as stinging nettles can be particularly irritating and can cause inflammation of an area of skin exposed to the nettle. Thorns, such as roses, hawthorn, blackthorn or pyracantha can penetrate the skin fairly easily, so be careful if working a

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  Heavy Metal

Metallic elements which can be toxic to plants and can result in significant thinning or death or a turfgrass sward, even in very small quantities. Examples include Zinc and Copper, which are also essential micro-nutrients.

  Heteroecious

An organism that completes different stages of its lifecycle on different hosts, with two or more different host species being required. The rust species Puccinia striiformis causes stripe (yellow) rust in some cereal and other grasses. It is heteroecious with Berberis species being a host along with grasses including wheat, rye, barley, smooth stalked meadow grass and others. (Huang, S., Zuo, S., Zheng, D. et al. Three formae speciales of Puccinia striiformis were identified as heteroecious rusts based on completion of sexual cycle on Berberis spp. under artificial inoculation. Phytopathol Re

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  Heterotroph

An organism which cannot make its own food (unlike an autotroph) and needs to consume materials (which may be living or dead / decaying organic matter) that have been produced by others. Animals and fungi are common heterotrophs, along with many bacteria species, although there are also many bacteria species which are autotrophs.

  Heterotrophic

The need of an organism for using complex organic compounds that have not been self-produced for healthy growth and development. Fungi are heterotrophic organisms.

  Hide-bound Turf

An old-fashioned term, dating from at least as far back as the 1930s, which means a compacted soil in need of significant and regular aeration work. Turf surfaces in those days would often contain relatively high amounts of clay particles and when dry conditions persisted would often bake and form a hard-capped surface layer.