Horticultural Terms is where we introduce a unique word related to horticulture. Did you know the word horticulture is derived from the Latin hortus, “garden,” and colere, “to cultivate.” Let's take a look at this quarters term.
Bacciferous: [bak-sif-er-us] adjective Botany. Bearing or producing berries
This is certainly a fun word to know and say. What makes this word most interesting is understanding how the term berry is defined in the world of Botany. A berry is a rounded, juicy pulpy fruit that develops directly from the ovary of a flower. While it often has seeds (edible), it does not have a pit. If it has a pit, it is a drupe, a horticultural term that was recently featured in this Blog.
Strictly speaking, everyday language misuses the word berry. True berries include blueberries, bananas, watermelons, citrus, grapes, cucumbers and pumpkins, pyracantha, and beautyberries (and many more). Wrap your head around this: strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, and blackberries are not berries at all. They develop from a completely different part of the flowering plant and are considered accessory fruits or aggregate fruits. There's always another word to learn. Maybe next quarter I'll dive into those words to properly speak the language of plant science.