The plant vocabulary is used to name living beings that grow in the ground, in a pot, or in the countryside. Here appear names of types of plants, parts such as leaf and root, places where they are seen and common actions such as watering or pruning. Also used are words related to Animals, Climate, Seasons and Landscapes, because plants change according to the environment.

árbolflorhierbaarbustopalmerahelechocactusenredaderabonsáiplanta acuática

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Una planta que guarda agua y suele tener espinasUna planta más pequeña que un árbol y con muchas ramas desde abajoUna planta que vive en el agua o cerca de ellaUn árbol pequeño que se cuida para que siga muy pequeñoUna planta delgada y suave que suele crecer bajaUna planta de hojas largas y delicadasUna planta que se agarra y sube por otras superficiesUna planta o parte de la planta con colores y forma bonitaUna planta grande con un tronco leñoso y ramasUna planta alta con hojas largas en la parte superior

Basic vocabulary of plant types

Word	Definition
árbol	A large plant with a woody trunk and branches.
flor	A plant or part of the plant with colors and a beautiful shape.
arbusto	A smaller plant than a tree with many branches from the bottom.
hierba	A plant that is thin and soft and usually grows low.
cactus	A plant that stores water and usually has spines.
enredadera	A plant that grips and climbs on other surfaces.
helecho	A plant with long and delicate leaves.
palmera	A tall plant with long leaves at the top.
planta acuática	A plant that lives in or near water.
bonsái	A small tree that is cared for to stay very small.

Scramble

Tree names a large plant with a trunk and branches. Flower usually refers to the colorful part of a plant, but also to the plant cultivated for its flowers. Shrub is shorter than a tree and has several branches from the base. Herb can be a small and soft plant, like lawn grass, or a plant used in cooking. Cactus is a plant that lives well in dry places and usually has spines.

hojaraízpétalofrutoramasemillatalloyema

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Cada una de las partes suaves y de color que forman la florPunto pequeño de la planta de donde puede salir una hoja o una florParte de la planta que suele contener semillasParte leñosa que sale del tronco o del talloParte plana de la planta que ayuda a respirar y crecerParte de la planta que sujeta y absorbe agua desde la tierraParte pequeña de la planta de la que nace una nueva plantaParte que sostiene la planta y lleva el agua hacia arriba

Basic vocabulary of plant parts

Word	Definition
raíz	Part of the plant that supports and absorbs water from the soil.
tallo	Part that supports the plant and carries water upward.
hoja	Flat part of the plant that helps it breathe and grow.
pétalo	Each of the soft, colored parts that form the flower.
fruto	Part of the plant that usually contains seeds.
semilla	Small part of the plant from which a new plant grows.
rama	Woody part that shoots from the trunk or stem.
yema	Small bud from the plant from which a leaf or flower may sprout.

Scramble

The root is underground and anchors the plant. The stem supports the plant and carries water and nutrients. The leaf is the green part that grows to the sides of the stem. The petal is each part of the flower that is usually thin and colored. The fruit appears after the flower and contains seeds in many plants.

macetainvernaderoparquehuertoterrazapatiojardínsemillero

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Lugar donde se cultivan plantas para comerLugar público con árboles y plantas para pasear y descansarEspacio abierto de una casa donde se colocan plantas en recipientesRecipiente donde se siembra una planta pequeñaZona interior o exterior donde también puede haber plantasEspacio con plantas que se cuida para decorar o disfrutarLugar o recipiente donde germinan las semillasEspacio cerrado donde las plantas crecen protegidas del clima

Vocabulary of places where there are plants

Word	Definition
maceta	Container where a small plant is planted.
jardín	Space with plants that is cared for to decorate or enjoy.
huerto	Place where plants are cultivated for food.
parque	Public place with trees and plants for walking and resting.
invernadero	Enclosed space where plants grow protected from the climate.
terraza	Open space of a house where plants are placed in containers.
patio	Internal or external area where there may also be plants.
semillero	Place or container where seeds germinate.

Scramble

A pot is a container where small plants are grown inside or outside the house. A garden is a space with plants cultivated with care. A vegetable patch is used for vegetables, fruits and edible herbs. A park can also have trees, flowers and shrubs, even if they are not grown for eating.

Uses for talking about plant care

Usage	Explanation
Initial planting	The verb plant is used when you put a seed or a plant in the soil so it can start to grow.
Watering	The verb water is used when you give water to the plant to keep it alive and happy.
Pruning branches	The verb prune is used when you cut parts of the plant to help it grow better.
Natural growth	The verb grow is used when the plant increases in size or develops.
Flowering	The verb flower is used when a plant produces flowers.
Sunlight	The word sun is used to say the plant needs direct light or a lot of brightness.
Protected area	The word shade is used to indicate a place with low light where some plants rest better.
Fertile soil	The word soil is used to talk about the material where the plant takes root and feeds.
Extra nutrition	The word compost is used to name the material that helps the plant receive more nutrients.
Hydration	The word water is used to talk about the liquid the plant needs to live.

A seed or a new plant is planted in soil or in a pot. It is watered with water so that it does not dry out. It is pruned when branches or leaves are cut to organize the growth. A plant grows when it increases in size, and it flowers when it produces flowers. The sun helps many plants, but others need shade. The soil provides support and food; the fertilizer improves the soil; the water is necessary to live. In a care task, the order is usually planting + watering + caring.

cerealaceitunahierba aromáticalegumbrefrutatomateverduraespecia

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Semilla o fruto comestible que suele crecer en vainasPlanta o grano que se usa como alimento básicoFruto del olivo que se come solo o para hacer aceitePlanta comestible que se come como alimento saladoFruto comestible que se usa mucho en ensaladas y salsasParte comestible de una planta que suele ser dulce o jugosaSustancia vegetal seca que añade sabor intensoPlanta pequeña que da olor y sabor a la comida

Vocabulary of plants and foods

Word	Definition
verdura	Edible plant that is eaten as a savory food.
fruta	Edible part of a plant that is usually sweet or juicy.
hierba aromática	Small plant that gives aroma and flavor to the food.
especia	Dried plant substance that adds strong flavor.
legumbre	Seed or edible fruit that usually grows in pods.
cereal	Plant or grain used as a basic food.
aceituna	Olive fruit that is eaten alone or to make oil.
tomate	Edible fruit that is used a lot in salads and sauces.

Scramble

The herbs such as parsley, mint or cilantro are used to add flavor. The vegetables are plants that are eaten in salads, soups and cooked dishes. The fruits come from many plants and are usually sweet or sour. The spices are dried parts of plants that are used in small amounts to flavor the food, such as cinnamon or cumin. In cooking, a plant can yield leaf, fruit, seed, or root.

rama decorativaarreglo floralplanta de interiordecorativacentro de mesaplanta colgantefloreroornamental

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Que está pensada para embellecer un lugarPlanta que vive bien dentro de casaAdorno que se coloca en medio de una mesaQue sirve para decorar un espacioPlanta que cuelga hacia abajo desde una maceta o soporteRama usada para adorno en casa o en eventosRecipiente donde se colocan flores cortadasConjunto de flores y plantas que se prepara para decorar

Vocabulary of decorative plants

Word	Definition
ornamental	That serves to decorate a space.
decorativa	That is meant to beautify a place.
florero	Container where cut flowers are placed.
centro de mesa	Decoration placed in the middle of a table.
rama decorativa	Branch used for ornament at home or events.
planta de interior	Plant that lives well indoors.
planta colgante	Plant that hangs downward from a pot or support.
arreglo floral	Set of flowers and plants prepared to decorate.

Scramble

The ornamental plants are grown to decorate. In a house, they are usually in a pot near a window, on a table or on a balcony. In the street or in a square, they can form borders, provide color or accompany trees and benches. Many flowers and shrubs are used for decoration because their shape, color or size attract attention.

matahierbitaplantamatica

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Se usa de manera afectuosa para una planta pequeña o una hierbaSe usa para hablar de una planta o arbusto pequeño en algunos contextos coloquialesSe usa como forma cariñosa para una planta pequeñaSe usa de forma general para una planta pequeña o para un ejemplar de cultivo

Regional variants for naming plants

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
México	mata	Used to talk about a small plant or shrub in some colloquial contexts.	En el patio creció una mata de albahaca muy chismosa.In the courtyard a mata of basil grew very gossiping.
España	planta	Used generally for a small plant or a cultivated specimen.	Compré una planta de menta para mi ventana cantante.I bought a planta of mint for my singing window.
Colombia	matica	Used as an affectionate form for a small plant.	Mi abuela cuida una matica de romero como si fuera una joya.My grandmother tends a matica of rosemary like a jewel.
Argentina	hierbita	Used affectionately for a small plant or herb.	La hierbita del balcón ya quiere invitar a todo el barrio.The balcony hierbita wants to invite the whole neighborhood.

Scramble

In some places, plant is used to talk about the plant in general, but in others you hear more mata for a small or wild plant. Shrub and herb can also vary depending on the country, especially when people talk about field, garden or kitchen plants. When a word changes according to the region, the context clarifies whether it refers to a plant for the home, the countryside, or the food.