Laced A term applied to Dianthus cultivars in which the petals have a narrow band of colour contrasting with the ground (main) colour.

Lamina The blade of a leaf, usually flattened, not including the petiole (leaf stalk).

Lateral A side growth that arises from a shoot or root.

Layer planting A form of interplanting in which groups of plants flower in succession having been planted closely together.

Layering A method of propagation by which a shoot is induced to root while attached to the parent plant. The basic form is self layering, which occurs naturally in some plants. Methods include: air layering (also known as Chinese layering or marcottage), French layering, mound layering, serpentine layering, simple layering, stooling, tip layering and trench layering.

Leaching The loss from the top soil of soluble nutrients by downward drainage.

Leader 1) The main, usually central, stem of a plant. 2) The terminal shoot of a main branch.

Leaf A plant organ, variable in shape and colour but often flattened and green, borne on the stem, that performs of the functions of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration.

Leaf mould Fibrous, flaky material derived from decomposed leaves, used as an ingredient in potting media and as a soil improver.

Leaflet One of the subdivisions of a compound leaf.

Legume A one-celled, dehiscent fruit splitting at maturity into two, belonging to the family Leguminosae.

Light 1) The movable cover of a coldframe. 2) Of soil, with a high proportion of sand and little clay.

Lime Loosely, a number of compounds of calcium; the amount of lime in soil determines whether it is alkaline, acid or neutral.

Line out To plant out young plants or insert cuttings in lines in a nursery bed or frame.

Lithophyte A plant naturally growing on rocks (or in very stony soil) and usually obtaining most of its nutrients and water from the atmosphere.

Loam A term used for soil of medium texture, often easily worked, that contains more or less equal parts of sand, silt, and clay, and is usually rich in humus. If the proportion of one ingredient is high, the term may be qualified as silt loam, clay loam, or sandy loam.

Lopper Long-handled shears, designed to enable high branches to be chopped (lopped) from large shrubs and trees from ground level.

Lute A piece of equipment used for working (luting) top-dressings into lawns.