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acaulescent - Stemless or nearly stemless.

adventitious offsets - Unusual offsetting, as in the tiny offsets at the base of some Vrieseas or on the inflorescences of some Tillandsias

ageotropic - Growing equally well in any direction, without respect to gravity.

albomarginated - Having variegation on the leaf margins only.

anthesis – The period when a plant is in perfect bloom, when the flowers are at their most receptive state.

bigeneric - A hybrid between two species of different genera.

blush, or  flush - Referrers to the color change during the blooming period.

bract - Modified leaves on an inflorescence, often brightly colored and flower-like.

capitate - Inflorescence forming a rounded head.

caulescent - Having an elongated leafy stem.

clone - Vegetative propagation from a single seedling parent.

cultivar - A cultivated variety or strain, differing from wild populations.

digitate - Branches clustering from one point like fingers on a hand.

discolor - Having two-toned leaves, often green above and purple below.

epiphyte-Not soil bound, but using another plant or object for support. Not a parasite.

fasciculate - Clustering habit. Offsets from the base form tight bunches.

floccose - Wooly or fuzzy.

flush, or blush - Referrers to the color change during the blooming period.

glabrous - Shiny and smooth, lacking hairs.

glaucous - A sea-green color, coated with a waxy powder.

globose - Rounded or spherical shape.

grex - All siblings of the same seed cross.

herbarium sheet - A paper with a prepared and dried plant specimen used for identification.

hybrid - The result of a cross between two different species or hybrids.

hybrid swarm - A cross between two species that becomes fertile and breeds true, imitating a true species.

inflorescence - The flowering portion of a plant, including the scape

lanceolate - Having a lance-like shape.

mesic – Constantly moist.

meristem - The actively growing tissue of a plant, used for artificial cloning.

nidular - Nested or nest-like. As an inflorescence deep in the center of the rosette.

offset - A vegetative division or lateral shoot. Synonym: pup.

pachycaul - An abnormally thick-stemmed plant.

panicle - A loosely branched inflorescence.

pinnate - Compound, with branches arranged in feather fashion to the sides of the rachis.

pseudobulb - A thickened base resembling a bulb, common in epiphytic plants like orchids and some bromeliads.

rachis - The central spine of an inflorescence.

reticulations - A network of veins or lines on a leaf surface.

saxicole - A rock dwelling species.

scape - The stem of an inflorescence, bearing one or more flowers, usually leaf-like bracts and sometimes branches.

scurf - Woolly hairs, usually found on the scape of an inflorescence.

spike – An unbrached inflorescence bearing sessile flowers. A term sometimes used in place of ‘inflorescence’

stoloniferous - Propagating by means of an elongated woody stem.

terete - Curled from the edges to form a tapering cylinder.

tessellated - Having a checkered or mosaic pattern.

trichome - The scales or hairs which all bromeliads are absorbing organs. These also give plants such as Tillandsias their silvery or fuzzy look.

triploid - Having an extra set of chromosomes. Often causes gigantism and other genetic morphs.

variegated - Having stripes, usually white, randomly up each leaf.

vivipary - Proliferating or producing offsets from the inflorescence.

xeric - Adapted to arid conditions.

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