Term

Definition
Aden, Paul (1988) Early Hosta hybridizer and author of The Hosta Book, published by Timber Press in 1988 (ISBN 0-88192-087-8)
Axillary The axil is that point where the leaf enters the stem.
Backward Mutation Variegation in a leaf normally means that for some reason, there is less chlorophyll present than normal resulting in tissue of a white, yellow or lighter green color. A backward mutation or reversion occurs when a variegated plant actually gains chlorophyll in those lighter areas.
Bell-shaped flowers Flowers that resemble a bell that hang with the opening in a downward direction.
Blackvine weevil This night-feeding insect (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is a common pest of hostas. It leaves a characteristic "half-moon" shaped notch on the edge of the leaves. This is also a pest of rhododendrons and yews (Taxus).
Bloom Bloom may refer to the opening of the flowers on the plant. Bloom also relates to the waxy coating on a leaf, stem, or pod surface producing a dusty appearance. The blue color in hosta is the result of a waxy bloom which reflects blue light waves from the plant surface. Over the growing season, this wax may wear off and the green color of the plant tissue below will become dominant.
Bloom season The time period between when the first flower of a stem or clump opens or is receptive to pollination and the last flower is open or receptive. Individual species and cultivars of hosta have specific bloom times ranging from late May to late autumn depending on the location of the garden.
Bract This is a modified leaf that forms on the flower scape of certain hostas. One may form beneath each flower on the scape. What most people call the flower of a dogwood and the red part of a poinsettia are also bracts.
Bullet In the spring when the buds on the top of the hosta crown begin to expand and emerge from the soil, they form what are called "bullets." They resemble the business end of a rifle cartridge before the leaf blades enlarge and unfold to open.
Centered-out Occasionally, when clumps of hosta get old, the center of the clump will die out. When a plant is "centered-out" it may sometimes be rejuvenated by dividing the clump. Unfortunately, this does not always work.
Chimera A plant is said to be a chimera when cells of more than one genotype (genetic makeup) are found growing adjacent in the tissues of that plant. Variegated plants are perhaps the most common types of chimeras. The cells in a variegated leaf all originated in the same apical meristem of the shoot, but some cells lack the ability to synthesize chlorophyll. These cells appear white rather than green even though they are components of the same tissue system.
Chimeril rearrangement The changing position of different pigments of different  tissues in an individual, i.e. a gold margined hosta producing a gold centered or all gold division. This is also sometimes referred to as a "reversion".
Chlorophyll Chlorophyll is the molecule that absorbs sunlight and uses its energy to synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide, nutrients and water. This process is known as photosynthesis and is the basis for sustaining the life processes of all plants...and by extension all life on earth. It reflects the green light spectrum resulting in the typical color of most plants.
Chlorosis Chlorosis is the loss of chlorophyll and causes plant tissue to turn yellow when it should be green. These tissues are said to be chlorotic. Necrosis is the death or dying of cells, tissues, or whole plants. Dead parts or plants are said to be necrotic and will generally turn black and rot.
Clone A group of genetically identical individual plants produced by asexual propagation such as division, cuttings, grafting or tissue culture. In Hosta, the most common techniques for producing hosta clones are division and tissue culture.
Corolla The corolla is the collective term for the set of petals and sepals that are fused together into tepals. They normally appear as two sets of three parts.
Corrugated See SEERSUCKERING
Crown The crown on a hosta is that tissue at the base of a plant beneath the soil surface where the roots and shoots join. The crown survives the winter beneath the ground and produces buds for the following season’s leaves and flowers. The crown is what is dissected during division.
Cultivar This is a contraction for the phrase "cultivated variety". A cultivar is a plant that is clearly distinguished by unique physical characteristics and maintains these characteristics through properly applied propagation techniques.

Many people use the term "variety” interchangeably with cultivar. Technically, a variety is a naturally occurring variation of the species. A cultivar may arise naturally or through cross-pollination (without human assistance), mutation or sporting of the original plant.
Cupped

This is a leaf blade having the center of the leaf lower than the margin, concave and looks like a cup.
 

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