Imbricated, a. L. imber, rain, imbrex, a hollow roof tile to shed rain; imbricare, to cover with roof tiles; lying over one another, or lapping, like tiles on a roof. Applied to sepals that overlap over a bud.
Included, a. L. in, in, claudere, to shut, close; confined within something. Said of the stamens when they do not project beyond the mouth of the corolla.
Inherit, v. L. in, in, heres, heir; to take by descent from an ancestor. Plants, like people, inherit their characteristics from their parents.
Iron, n. A very abundant and very important metal. In small quantities it enters into the composition of plants and animals.
Irritate, v. L. irritare, to excite; to excite to action. Rubbing irritates the skin and causes extra blood to flow to the spot and thus redden it. Rubbing may also irritate plant tissues and cause an extra flow of sap to the part irritated.
J.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit. The name of a plant that blooms in early summer. The flowers have no corollas or calyxes, but grow clustered together on a long spike. The spike of flowers is surrounded by a large overarching bract.
Juan Fernandez, n. An island, west of Chili, in South America. It is said to be the island where Robinson Crusoe lived.
Jupiter, n. In Roman mythology, the chief of the gods. The eagle is his favorite bird, and he is often represented with a sheaf of thunderbolts in his hand.