Gardening Glossary

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vacuole

A fluid-filled sac within a cell.

vaporization

The evaporation of the active ingredient in a pesticide during or after application.

variegation

An inherited, irregular pattern of color on a leaf or petal.

variety

A strain of a plant having distinctive features that persist over successive generations in the absence of human intervention. Generally, variety applies to naturally-occuring strains, while cultivar applies to horticulturally-developed strains.

vascular cambium

A narrow cylinder of cells that gives rise to secondary xylem and phloem. A lateral meristem.

vascular plant

A plant which has water and food conducting tissues.

vascular tissue

Water-, nutrient-, and photosynthate-conducting tissue. See xylem, phloem.

vector

A transmitter or carrier of disease.

vegetative propagation

The increase of plants by asexual means using vegetative parts. Normally results in a population of identical individuals. Can occur by either natural means (e.g., bulblets, cormels, offsets, plantlets, or runners), or by artificial means (e.g., cuttings, division, budding, grafting, or layering).

vein

A strand of xylem and phloem in a leaf blade.

venation

The arrangement of veins in a leaf.

vernalization

A low-temperature treatment promoting flowering.

vernation

The arrangement of new leaves within an older leaf sheath (e.g., on a grass plant).

verticle spacing

The vertical space between branches on a tree.

viability

A seed's ability to germinate.

virus

An infectious agent too small to see with a compound microscope. Multipies only within a living host cell.