North American Orchid Conservation Center

Glossary: N

naked
Without a covering.
nectary nectary
A structure or gland that secretes nectar, the sugar-rich substance that attracts pollinators and other feeders.
needle needle
A leaf that is much longer than wide, as in a sewing needle; usually refers to conifers.
Nelphe carolina Nelphe carolina
Little Carol's Wasp Moth, photo ©Carol Wolf, North American Moth Photographers Group.
nerve nerve
The raised or channeled portion of epidermis that indicates the path of a vein.
net veins net veins
With lateral veins that branch and reconnect, forming a network of anastomosing vessels.
node node
Point of attachment of a leaf, peduncle, or branch to a stem.
Nomada sayi Nomada sayi
Nomad Bee, photo courtesy Packer Laboratory, York University with assistance of Robert and Cecily Bradshaw and Canadensys.
non-arcuate non-arcuate
Straight.
non-resupinate non-resupinate
Unusual condition in orchids where the lip is located on the upper side of the flower.
nut nut
A dry, indehiscent fruit with a hard wall, usually containing only one seed and usually subtended by an involucre (as in acorns of the oak family, Fagaceae).
nutlet nutlet
A small nut.