Gardeners' glossary A-Z

Chlorosis

A deficiency in plant chlorophyll, resulting in pale green, yellow or yellow/white foliage.

Chromosome

A thread of DNA containing genetic information that's located in the nucleus of all plant cells.

Ciliate

A complex single cell organism that's common wherever there is water - oceans, lakes, ponds and soil.

Cladode

A photosynthetic branch or portion of stem, which resembles and functions as a leaf.

Clamp

A traditional structure for the storage of vegetables. A clamp consists of a pile of the vegetables, layered with straw and soil to protect it from frost and rain. Ventilation holes are plugged with loose straw to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide and the depletion of oxygen.

Classification

A method by which biologists group and categorise species and organisms. They're organised as follows:

1) Species

2) Genus - a group of closely related species.

3) Family - a group of genera.

4) Order - a group of closely related families.

5) Class - a group of related orders.

6) Division or phylum

7) Kingdom

Cloche

A covering (traditionally bell-shaped) for the protection of plants from cold temperatures, frost, birds and pests.

Clone

A group of genetically identical genes, cells or individual plants derived from a single parent plant by non-sexual means.

Clove

The aromatic dried flower bud of a tree in the Myrtacaea family, native to Indonesia.

Club root

A disease affecting cabbages, radishes, turnips and other members of the mustard family (Cruciferae). It's caused by plasmodiophora brassicae, a slime mold that attacks the roots and causes undeveloped heads or a failure to head at all.