vern-, vernal- +

1. Of, or characteristic of, or occurring in spring: "After such a cold winter, we were looking forward to vernal sunshine."
2. Appearing or occurring in spring: "It was easy to observe the vernal migratory movements of the birds."
3. Relating to the ecological season that extends from late April to late May in the northern hemisphere.
4. Appropriate to or suggesting spring; springlike: "It was wonderful to see the vernal greenery again."
5. Suggestive of youth; characteristic of youth; such as, being vigorous and fresh: "The elderly couple often had vernal longings."

An increase in sexual desire which occurs in the spring.

The point at which the sun's path crosses the celestial equator moving from south to north.

The vernal equinox marks the zero point in both the equatorial and ecliptic coordinate systems; horizontal angular distances are measured eastward from this point.

The vernal equinox occurs on March 20 or 21 and the autumnal equinox on September 22 or 23, marking the beginning of spring and autumn, respectively, in the Northern Hemisphere (and the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere).

The term equinox comes from Latin meaning "equal night" because the days on which an equinox falls have about equal periods of sunlight and darkness.

1. The cooling of seeds during germination in order to accelerate flowering when they are planted.
2. The induction and promotion of the flowering process in a plant by subjecting it to a temperature of less than ten degrees centigrade; therefore, simulating winter dormancy.

Vernalization is commonly used for crop plants; such as, winter rye, and is possible because the seeds and buds of many plants require cold in order to break dormancy.

In order to flower at the right time, many plants must experience a period of cold to trigger the vernalization process. If it doesn't get cold enough, flowering is considerably delayed or may not happen at all. In addition, some of the plants which need to be vernalized are important food species; such as, sugar beets and wheat; which feed millions and provide much-needed income globally.

1. Exposing plant seeds, or seedlings, to artificially cold temperatures in order to promote subsequent development and flowering.
2. To shorten the growth period of plants by chilling or other special treatment of them, their seeds, or their bulbs.

A seasonal body of standing water that typically forms in the spring from melting snow and other runoff, dries out completely in the hotter months of summer, and often refills in the autumn.

Vernal pools range from broad, heavily vegetated lowland bodies to smaller, isolated upland bodies with little permanent vegetation.

They are free of fish and provide important breeding habitats for many terrestrial or semiaquatic species; such as, frogs, salamanders, and turtles.

In botany, the arrangement of young leaves in a leaf bud before it opens.

The coiled arrangement of young leaves in fern fiddleheads is known as circinate vernation and protects the delicate leaf tips as they develop.