Wildlife Gardening Glossary © Paul Peace 2004.

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A    top

Abdomen - the main body section of an animal. back

Acid soil - acid soils have a pH below 7.0. Most plants prefer a slightly acid soil of around pH 6.5. Some, such as rhododendrons and azaleas have to have acidic condition to thrive. Others are more tolerant. back

Aesthetics – the way things look; their appearance. back

Agricultural intensification - in order to remain competitive, farmers have increasingly needed to obtain as much produce as they can out of a given piece of land. To increase crop yields or the number of animals that can be farmed, a number of practices have become commonplace, usually to the detriment of wildlife. These include the use of chemicals and the removal of hedgerows and trees. back

Alkaloid - a nitrogen-based compound which, when consumed, can have very powerful effects on the body. Many types are highly toxic. back

Allergen - a substance which can cause an allergic reaction. back

Alkaline soil - has a pH of above 7.0. Some plants can tolerate a wide range of pHs but others must have an alkaline soil such as the those which grow naturally on chalky soils. back

Alpine plant - strictly speaking, a plant which grows wild on high mountain slopes above the tree line (beyond the highest point where trees can survive). More loosely used to describe rockery plants (many of which are true alpines but some are not). back

Amphibian - a cold-blooded vertebrate, typically living on land but breeding in water. back

Annual - a plant which goes through a complete life cycle in one year. back

Antenna (pl. antennae) - stalked sensory organs on the head of some invertebrate animals. back

Aquatic - plants or animals which live in water. back

Astringent - contracts bodily tissues and halts bleeding. back

B    top

Berry - a fleshy fruit. back

Biennial - a plant which goes through a complete life cycle in two years. back

Biodegradable - something that rots - usually natural materials but occasionally synthetics which decompose. back

Biodiversity - the number of species in a given area. In 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit 150 countries including the UK agreed that in order to pass on a rich and healthy environment to future generations it is necessary to act immediately to conserve and enhance the range of species and habitats in local areas - ‘Think global, act local’ is a commonly heard expression. A healthy environment has a very diverse range of plants and animals which all live within a system (an ecosystem). We need to protect all species whether they are presently common or rare. back

Bird - a warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate that has feathers and wings (modified forelimbs). back

Bog - an area which is always moist but not continuously waterlogged and acidic. back

Bolting - refers to when a vegetable, in particular a brassica, goes from being a compact leafy plant to rapidly sprouting a long flower stem. back

Brackish - slightly salty water. back

Brassicas - a group of nitrogen-hungry plants which includes, for example, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, savoy, sprouts, broccoli, swede and turnip back

Broadcast - method of wide seed dispersal (as opposed to seed drills for example). back

BTO - British Trust for Ornithology. An organisation dedicated to wild bird research. BTO website back

BSA - Birdcare Standards Association. An organisation dedicated to wild bird health & safety. BSA website back

Bulb - swollen underground leaf bases in some plants which store food while the plant rests through the cold winter and/or hot, dry summer. back

Bulbils - new bulbs produced by a mature bulb which can be detached and grown. back

C    top

Calcareous soils - formed on chalk or limestone, containing large amounts calcium carbonate. back

Carnivore - an organism that feeds on animals. back

Catkin - hanging spike of very small, wind-pollinated flowers. back

Chalk - soft calcium carbonate. Alkaline pH. back

Chlorophyll - the green pigment present in plants, algae and cyanobacteria. This is where photosynthesis takes place. back

Chrysalis (or pupa) - stage during which a larva changes into an adult. back

Clay soil - has very fine particles which cling together making it sticky and poorly drained unless constantly broken up. back

Cocoon - silk enclosure back

Coir - coconut husk. Makes a good compost, mulch and peat substitute. back

Compost - well rotted organic matter. back

Conifer - an evergreen tree which bears cones. back

Coppice - the repeated cutting of trees to ground level for wood following regrowth. A sustainable resource, providing wood indefinitely. back

Corm - a thickened underground plant stem which stores food. Similar to a bulb. back

Crown - growing part of a plant above ground and on top of the rootstock from which new leaves emerge. back

Cucurbits - cucumber family e.g. squash, cucumber, gourds, pumpkins and watermelons. back

Cultivar - short for ‘cultivated variety’ which means a variety raised in cultivation (as opposed to wild). Such plants are bred deliberately for particular characteristics such as unnaturally large or long-lasting flowers, brighter colours or disease resistance. back

Cutting - a section of stem, root, or leaf removed from a plant and encouraged to become a new, self-sufficient plant through the development of it own roots. back

D    top

Dead-heading - the removal of a dead flower to encourage a plant to put its energy into growth including new flowers rather than seed production. back

Deciduous - a plant which loses its leaves ready for the winter. This is a protective measure as the uptake of water is inhibited during cold weather. back

Decoction - water-soluble extracts of plant material obtained by boiling in water. back

Decompose - organic matter which rots due to the actions of organisms which feed on dead material, such as bacteria and fungi. back

Detritus - dead and decaying organic matter, e.g. leaf litter or mud on a pond floor. back

Diuretic - promotes urine flow. back

Diurnal – active by night and day. back

Dormant - a long period of inactivity in a plant or animal. back

Double flower - more than one set of petals within the same flower. Very full appearance and usually less productive in tems of nectar. back

Drill - in the context of a seed drill, a long, thin furrow or shallow trench made in the soil ready for sowing seeds. The displaced soil is replaced on top of the seeds. back

Dune - wind-blown sand, usually with high shell content and therefore lime-rich. back

E    top

Ecology - the study of living things, their interactions with one another and with the environment. back

Elytrum or Elytron - hardened forewing of an insect. The plural is elytra. back

Emergents - plants which grow in shallow water at the margin/edge of a pond. Also known as ‘marginals’. back

Environment - strictly speaking, the non-living world around organisms such as air, soil and water but often extended to include the natural world around us. back

Enzyme - a chemical produced by a living thing which changes one substance to another. back

Erosion - the wear and removal of something e.g rock, coastline, paths or topsoil by the action of water, frost, wind, walkers, etc. back

Evaporation - where water returns to the air e.g a pond level falling. Happens quicker at higher temperatures. back

Evergreen - a plant which has leaves all year round. Evergreens do lose leaves but this is done steadily over the whole year. back

Exotic - not native to a country or area; taken there by a human. Syn. Non-native, introduced, ornamental. back

Expectorant - increases the production or expulsion of phlegm from the respiratory tract. back

F    top

Fauna - animals. back

Fen - a wet area which is more alkaline than a bog (which is acidic). back

Fertiliser - contains nutrients useful to plants. back

Field layer – woodland floor? back

Fix / fixing - in the context of nitrogen this means the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form useful to plants, a process carried out by bacteria. back

Flora - vegetation. back

Food chain - lower organisms are food (prey) for higher organisms (predators). These higher organisms are themselves food (prey) for even higher organisms (predators) in succession. back

Food plant - a plant which provides a source of food for an animal. back

Food web - a complex system of relationships between predators and prey. back

Fruit - a seed or seeds and the fleshy part surrounding them. back

FSC - Forest Stewardship Council. Wooden products carrying the FSC kitemark are guaranteed to come from well managed forests e.g managed in a sustainable manner and definitely not rainforest timber. FSC website back

G    top

Gall - a swelling on a plant in response to an invading organism such as a mite, insect larva or fungus. back

Genus or Genera (pl.) - a group/s of species with similar characteristics. back

Germination - where a seed (or nut, etc) begins to sprout. back

Gestation - the carrying of young in the uterus during pregnancy. back

Green manure - a crop of plants grown purely for the purpose of digging them in to increase soil fertility. If allowed to drop seed the process can be self-sustaining. back

Ground cover - plants which quickly cover bare ground. back

Grub - larva. back

H    top

Habit - manner of plant growth, e.g. ‘climbing’ or ‘creeping’. back

Habitat - a place where living things are found and where they find some or all of their requirements for survival. back

Half-hardy - needs some protection in cold weather especially further north. back

Hard pan - a hard layer undergound where minerals have leached through the soil and have been deposited. back

Hardening off - to gradually acclimatise plants that are used to warmer conditions, e.g. in a greenhouse, to colder conditions and frost. back

Healing in - common misspelling - see 'heeling in'.

Heath - usually acidic and exposed, composed of heathers and other heath plants. Relatively dry compared to moorland. back

Hedgerow - a line of shrubs and sometimes trees. Some argue a true hedgerow also has a bank at its foot. back

Heeling in - a temporary measure to keep plants healthy if you cannot plant them straight away, e.g. in dry, frosty or wet weather until conditions improve, or whilst away. A quick ‘v’-shaped trench large enough for the roots is dug out. Plants are placed at 45° angle and covered with soil. The soil is pressed round the roots using the heel of the foot before watering. Sometimes spelt 'healing in'. back

Herb - a very flexible term. Often thought of as a plant useful in cooking. Plants which are useful in other ways (or have been at some point in human history), perhaps medicinally, or for dyes or perfumes, are also herbs. Shrubs, trees, aquatic plants, etc. can also be included in the wider definition if they are useful to people. back

Herbaceous perennial - plants with soft rather than woody stems which come up year after year. back

Herbicide - weedkiller. back

Herbivore - an organism that feeds only on vegetation. back

Hibernation - a dormant phase, usually late autumn until early spring, where an animal's metabolism is greatly reduced. Its breathing and heart rate are slower and its body temperature lower. This decreased energy consumption allows the cold months, when food is scarce, to pass by without the need to feed. back

Hip - a brightly coloured false fruit e.g. ‘rose hip’. back

Hoary - with short hairs, giving a greyish appearance. back

Home range - this is the area covered by an animal during the course of normal daily activities. back

Host - a plant or animal which supports another species. For example, nettles are host to many caterpillars. A host also refers to plants or animals which support a parasite. The plant or animal may or may not gain anything itself for its services. back

Humus - the sticky organic matter which binds soil particles together. This can be increased by adding organic matter such as manure, compost or dead vegetation. back

Hybrid - a cross between different genera, species, or varieties of plant. back

Hyphae - the fine threads of a fungus. Not usually seen. back

I    top

Imago - the final, adult stage in the life cycle of an insect. back

Improved soils - where nutrients such as nitrogen have been added in the form of synthetic fertilisers or organic materials such as manure. These soils suit vigorous grasses at the expense of less competitive wild flowers. back

Indicator species - a species which plays a central role in the ecology of a habitat. Its frequency and health therefore serves as an indication of the general health of a habitat and local ecology as a whole. back

Indigenous - native plant or animal; has it's natural home in that location e.g Humberside or England. back

Inflorescence - an inflorescence is a group of flowers packed together on the same main stem such as those found in teasels and umbellifers. back

Infusion - water-soluble extracts of plant material obtained by steeping (soaking) in water that has been brought to boiling point. back

Instar - one of a number of stages a larva or nymph will pass through. At each instar (stage) the larva or nymph is larger. Each stage is punctuated by a moult. back

Introduced - not native to a country or area; taken there by a human. Syn. Non-native, exotic. back

Invasive - plants that spread quickly and are difficult to control. back

Invertebrate - any species of animal that does not have a backbone. back

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K    top

L    top

Larva (pl. larvae) - the second stage in the insect life cycle. back

Layering - a method of propagation where a plant stem is pinned under the soil surface until it roots. back

Leaching - minerals in soil are dissolved in rainwater and drain away. This is more of a problem on freely draining soils such as sandy soils. back

Leaf litter - leaves which collect under trees, shrubs and other vegetation. back

Legume / leguminous - plants that have seeds in pods such as peas, beans, vetches, sweet peas, clover, lupin, broom and laburnum. Good for increasing soil nitrogen levels as their roots harbour nitrogen fixing bacteria which convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form which plants can use. back

Lime - in a gardening context, the fine particles of calcium carbonate (limestone or chalk) which can produce an alkaline soil. back

Limestone - hard calcium carbonate, alkaline pH. back

Loam - garden soil which has a crumbly texture due to a good level of humus, with an ideal balance of water retention and drainage. A mixture of particle sizes i.e sand, silt and clay present. back

Log Garden - a pile of logs left to rot and providing a habitat for a vast array of creatures. back

M    top

Mammal - warm-blooded vertebrate animals with mammary glands in the female. back

Manure - organic material such as animal faeces or plants which acts as a fertiliser. back

Marginals - plants which grow in shallow water at the margin/edge of a pond. Also known as ‘emergents’. back

Marsh - land that is constantly wet with some standing water, not on peat. back

Meadow - a mixture of grass and wild flowers, grazed or managed by a cutting regime. back

Metamorphosis - the changes some animals undergo during their lifecycle e.g. from a caterpillar, through a chrysalis, to a butterfly. back

Migrant - wildlife which does not reside in the UK and/or Ireland but visits from other countries in search of food, suitable breeding sites, etc. back

Mimicry - an organism takes on the appearance of another organism and benefits from the protection this affords them. back

Moorland - a heath which receives higher rainfall. Mostly heathers. back

Mulch - a layer of material placed on the soil surface to suppress weeds, maintain a more constant temperature and minimise water evaporation, e.g. bark chippings. back

Mycelium - the mat of hyphae which form the bulk of a fungus. Not usually seen. back

N    top

Native - organisms that are naturally present in a particular country, i.e. without interference by humans. This site focuses on British and Irish wildlife, so 'native' here means native to these countries unless otherwise stated. Some organisms are introduced but come to be regarded as natives (strictly speaking, these are ‘naturalised’). Nettles were probably introduced by the Romans, for example, long after the UK and Ireland became separated from each other and the rest of Europe by the sea. back

Natural succession - without interference from humans, domestic or farm animals, habitats progress through a series of stages. For example, a pond that is not fed by fresh water will collect sediment, making it progressively shallower. Eventually it will become a bog and then dry out. Grassland will take over, followed by larger plants. Increasingly larger shrubs and then trees follow, creating woodland. In another example a rock may be colonised by lichens and moss. These provide an anchor for pioneer plants. Debris from these produces a thin soil which supports more plants. Provided the rock is not exposed by the weather it will eventually become covered by vegetation and finally trees. back

Naturalised - some species which would not naturally be found in this country have been introduced from abroad, often as garden plants or pets and have subsequently escaped into the wild. Most do not survive but a small number manage to meet all their requirements and start to reproduce. back

Nectar - sugary substance produced by flowers which attracts insects and other pollinators. back

Neutral - soil that has a pH of 7.0 which is mid way between acid and alkaline. A wide range of plants can be grown with most preferring very slightly acidic conditions. Adding garden compost should help to slightly acidify the soil if necessary. A light liming would make the soil more alkaline. back

Nocturnal - active at night and inactive during the day. back

Non-native - not native to a country or area; taken there by a human. Syn. introduced, exotic, ornamental. back

Nutrients - plant foods such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. back

Nymph - young insects of species where the young are very much like the adult e.g. dragonflies. They only need to undergo a partial metamorphosis, changing gradually at each moult/instar. This contrasts with, say, a caterpillar which has to undergo a complete metamorphosis before it becomes a butterfly. Nymphs also often eat similar foods as adults whereas larvae eat different foods. back

O    top

Omnivores - animals that are capable of eating both plants and animals. back

Organic - from a living organism. Anything that has lived before can become part of a future living organism. A simple example is how plants shed leaves which decay. Fungi and bacteria break down the leaves into minerals that return to the soil. These minerals then feed new plants which eventually die and so on. back

Organic gardening - use of only natural resources rather than synthetics and working with, rather than against, nature. back

Organism - a living thing. back

Ornamental - not native to a country or area; taken there by a human. Syn. Non-native, exotic. back

Ovipositor - a tube at the and of an insects abdomen used for laying eggs. back

Oxygenators - pond plants which play a vital role in adding oxygen to the water which other organisms can use. back

P    top

Parasite - a parasite lives in close association with another species, taking from it (e.g. nutrition) but offering its host nothing in return. back

Peat - a rich, brown organic material which is formed over hundreds of years as sphagnum moss or sedges die but do not decompose fully in the acidic and relatively lifeless water. A non-sustainable resource which should not be used. back

Pedunculate - stalked flowers, e.g. those of the pedunculate oak. back

Perennial - a plant which lives for many years. However, some perennials are best treated as annuals because they are at their best in their first year, e.g. feverfew. back

Pergola - open structure made of wooden posts and arches. back

pH - chemists would provide a complex explanation. For our purposes, pH is a scale ranging from 1 (very acidic) through 7 (neutral) to 14 (very alkaline). Natural soils never reach the extremities of this scale. However, it is important to know your soil pH as plants adapted to acid soils, for example, will often do poorly on alkaline soils (which is one reason you can travel around the country and see totally different vegetation). back

Photosynthesis - the process by which plants and some other organisms convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars using light as an energy source. Oxygen is produced as a by-product. back

Pod - long non-fleshy fruit containing seeds esp. in pea family. back

Pond - a body of relatively stagnant water. back

Population - numbers of one particular kind of species in a particular area. back

Predator - an organism which feeds on another organism. back

Prevailing wind - the direction the wind usually comes from back

Prey - an organism which provides food for another organism. back

Pricking out - young seedlings in a seed tray soon become overcrowded and have little soil depth for developing roots. They therefore need to be removed carefully and given more space in pots or in the garden. back

Proboscis - The tubular tongue of an insect. back

Proprietary - as in ‘proprietary compost’ - bulk produced under a brand name. back

Pupa (or chrysalis) - stage during which a larva changes into an adult. back

Purgative - strong laxative. back

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R    top

Raised bed - soil raised and contained by a wall, railway sleeper, etc. back

Resident - resident garden wildlife lives in the garden, such as a plants, or at least stays there for part of its life cycle, such as caterpillars. Contrast this with a ‘visitor’ which comes and goes. In practice, few animals are truly resident as few have any interest in human boundaries and few can get all they need from one garden. back

Rhizome - swollen underground plant stem which stores food and sprouts at a intervals, e.g. iris and lily-of-the-valley. back

Rock garden or rockery - a well drained, usually sunny, garden containing rocks and alpine plants. back

Rodent - small placental mammals with constantly growing incisor teeth. back

Root ball - a plant’s root network and the associated soil. back

RSPB - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. RSPB website back

Runner - a slender stem which grows horizontally above ground and roots at intervals to produce new plants. back

S    top

Sandy soil - large particles and very well drained. Therefore poor water and nutrient retention unless organic material is added. back

Saprophyte - an organism which feeds on dead material. back

Scarifier - a mechanical rake which spins like a cylinder mower and rakes out dead grass (thatch) from lawns. back

Scarification - the process of removing thatch from lawns. In another meaning, deliberately breaking down the tough waterproof coating on some seeds. This triggers germination by allowing water in. back

Scree - loose small rocks found on upper mountain slopes and recreated in the rock garden. back

Semi-evergreen - a plant which may or may not keep all of its leaves depending on the mildness or severity of a winter. back

Sessile - stalkless flower, e.g. those of the sessile oak (also refers to permanently attached animals such as barnacles). back

Shrub - a woody perennial with a branched habit. Smaller than a tree although the distinction is often blurred as with elder. back

Slack - a damp hollow amongst sand dunes. back

Soil conditioner - a material which affects the structure, nutrient level or pH of an existing soil. back

Species - a group of organisms which all share the same characteristics and are capable of interbreeding. Different species have a combination of characteristics which is not shared with any other species. back

Spp. - shorthand for a number of species. back

Stolon - creeping stem above ground for vegetative reproduction back

Stratification - process of exposing seeds or bulbs to cold temperatures to simulate winter and stimulate germination. back

Sub-shrub - small, spreading shrub. back

Subsoil - the soil beneath the topsoil. Usually lighter in colour and with little organic matter or visible soil organisms. Rock will become more frequent were you to dig down towards the bedrock. In chalk soils this layer may be only a few centimetres down. back

Sub-species - a group of individuals which have slight variations due to being geographically separated from the main species but are still capable of interbreeding and therefore not worthy of a separate special classification. back

Sustainable - a resource or process that can be utilised indefinitely. Compost is sustainable as it can be produced forever. Peat takes hundreds of years to form and if it is used it cannot quickly be replaced (unsustainable). Fossil fuels such as oil take even longer (millions of years) to be replaced. back

Sward - the thick mass of plants making up turf. back

Symbiosis - two organisms living in close association, each providing something the other requires. Compare this harmonious give and take relationship with the selfish parasites. back

Syn. (or = ) - synonymous, i.e. two or more names are used for the same species. back

T    top

Taproot - the main, central root of many plants from which a network of smaller roots branch off. Wider at the top and narrowing along its length. back

Tendril - anchoring filaments used by climbing plants, e.g. pea family. back

Territory - an area covered by an animal. Sometimes an area is claimed by an animals as 'theirs' and defended. Humans are perhaps the most territorial animals, claiming land that strictly 'belongs' to nobody as 'private property' and often defending it through war, fighting and argument. back

Thermals - rising currents of warm air. Insects and birds (and para/gliders) can take advantage of these, gaining elevation without expending energy before gliding back to earth to slow the descent. back

Thorax - the part of the body between the head and abdomen in most organisms. Usually the place where legs and wings are attached. back

Tilth - a fine crumb soil structure. back

Top dressing – ornamental lawns can be top dressed with compost, sand, soil and/or leafmould in early autumn to increase vigour, help thatch to degrade and to level out minor undulations. Sometimes brushed in after creating holes every 25cm or so with a fork or hollow tine aerator to nourish the roots and balance light or heavy soils. back

Topsoil - the uppermost layer of soil. Most plant roots do not venture deeper than this. Nutrients are released from organic matter here and it is where the majority of soil-dwelling organisms live. Should not to be mixed with subsoil except for the creation of poor soil for a permanent wild flower area such as a meadow. back

Tree - a very tall plant with a single thick woody stem at the base - some shrubs such as elder are classed as trees when left to grow unhindered. back

Tuber - some plants have an underground storage organ developed from stems (e.g. potato) and roots (e.g. dahlia). back

U    top

Umbellifers - carrot family. Although the ‘r’ is not present in the spelling, the family are easy to remember because they have ‘umbrella’-shaped flower heads (‘umbels’). back

V    top

Var. - shorthand for a number of varieties of plant within a species. back

Variegation - leaves that have two or more distinct colours, often white, cream or yellow blotches on green, e.g. many ivies. A result of breeding, mutation, viral infection or a mineral deficiency. back

Variety - a natural variation between plants of a particular species but not worthy of a separate species classification. back

Vertebrate - an animal with a backbone. back

Visitor - a visiting garden animal comes and goes, for example, a butterfly. Those that remain within the garden, at least for part of their life cycle, can be considered ‘residents’. back

W    top

Wasteland - an area disturbed by humans but not cultivated. back

Wild - organisms that live independently of human control i.e. they have not been domesticated in the way that domestic cats and dogs and farm animals have. back

Wildlife - see 'wild'. Often used to mean 'wild animals' but it includes all wild organisms including plants. back

X    top

Xylem - plant tissue that carries water from the roots to the leaves. back

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Z    top