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Science & Tech > Botany > Habits


Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.


accumbent of plants, lying against something.
acropetal in the direction of the tip of the plant.
acropetally (Adv.) ACROPETAL, in the direction of the tip of the plant.
adnascent growing on some other thing.
aerotropism curvature in response to concentration of oxygen.
amplexicaul stem-clasping.
apheliotropic growing away from the sun.
apheliotropism growth away from the sun.
apogeotropic bending up or away from the ground.
apogeotropism bending up or away from the ground.
ascensive rising; curving up from a prostrate to an erect position.
basifugal developing in a direction away from the base.
caulicolous growing on a stem.
caulinary belonging to or growing from a stem.
cauline belonging to or growing from a stem.
cernuous of flowers and buds, nodding, bowing down, drooping.
cespitose growing in clusters or tufts.
cespitosely (Adv.) CESPITOSE, growing in clusters or tufts.
circumnutation rotation in a nodding position, as the helical path described by the growing point of a plant.
circumnutatory showing circumnutation.
declinate curving downwards.
decomplex repeatedly compound.
decurrent continued down the stem.
decurrently (Adv.) DECURRENT, continued down the stem.
decursive running down; decurrent.
decursively (Adv.) DECURSIVE, running down; decurrent.
defluent running down, decurrent.
dehiscent gaping, bursting open, as the capsule of a plant.
diageotropic tending to grow at right angles to the line of gravity.
diageotropism the tendency of roots to orient perpendicular to gravity.
diaheliotropic turning transversely to the light.
diaheliotropism the state of being diaheliotropic, turning transversely to the light.
diaphototropic diaheliotropic, turning transversely to the light.
diaphototropism the state of being diaphototropic, turning transversely to the light.
diaphototropy the state of being diaphototropic, turning transversely to the light.
diatropic relating to diatropism, the growth of plant roots at right angles to an applied force.
diatropism the growth of plant roots at right angles to an applied force.
epicormic denoting shoots that grow from buds below the bark on the trunk or branch of a tree.
epigaeal growing or living close to the ground, with cotyledons above ground.
epigaean growing or living close to the ground, with cotyledons above ground.
epigaeous growing or living close to the ground, with cotyledons above ground.
epigeal growing or living close to the ground, with cotyledons above ground.
epigean growing or living close to the ground, with cotyledons above ground.
epigeic growing or living close to the ground, with cotyledons above ground.
epigeous growing or living close to the ground, with cotyledons above ground.
epigynous growing upon the top of the ovary; having calyx, corolla and stamens inserted on the top of an inferior ovary.
epigyny the condition of growing on top of the ovary.
epilithic of plants, growing on the surface of rock.
epinastic growing more rapidly on the upper than on the under surface.
epinastically (Adv.) EPINASTIC, growing more rapidly on the upper than on the under surface.
epinasty a downward tilt to leaves caused by excessive upperside growth.
epiphyllous borne on the leaves or leaflike organs.
equitant of leaves, folded lengthwise over succeeding leaves.
eutropic turning to face the sun.
eutropous according to eutropy, turning sunwise.
geminous double; occurring in pairs.
geophytic of or like a geophyte, a plant that survives the winter by having subterranean buds.
habitus (Lat.) the characteristic appearance, manner of growth, etc of a plant or animal.
haptotropic curving in response to touch.
heliotropic turning towards the sun.
heliotropical turning towards the sun.
heliotropically (Adv.) HELIOTROPICAL, turning towards the sun.
hydrotactic relating to hydrotaxis, movement towards or away from water.
hydrotaxis movement towards or away from water.
hydrotropic exhibiting hydrotropism, i.e. growth in the direction of water.
hydrotropically (Adv.) HYDROTROPIC, exhibiting hydrotropism.
hypogaeous underground; germinating with cotyledons underground.
hyponastic relating to hyponasty, a tendency in part of a plant to grow more rapidly on the underside.
hyponastically (Adv.) HYPONASTIC, relating to hyponasty, a tendency in part of a plant to grow more rapidly on the underside.
hyponasty a tendency in part of a plant to grow more rapidly on the underside, so that it curves upwards.
natant floating in water, as the leaves of water lilies, or submersed, as those of many aquatic plants.
natantly (Adv.) NATANT, floating in water, as the leaves of water lilies.
nutant nodding; pendulous.
ombrophilous capable of withstanding long periods of rain.
orthotropism vertical growth.
paraheliotropic turning edgewise to the light.
perfoliate of a leaf or bract, completely encircling the axis and so the stem apparently passing through it.
petaliferous bearing petals.
photophilous light-loving, turning towards the light.
phreatophyte a plant with a deep root system that draws its water supply from near the water table.
phreatophytic of or like a phreatophyte, a plant with a deep root system that draws its water supply from near the water table.
plagiotropism the tendency to grow at an oblique or horizontal angle.
plagiotropous showing plagiotropism, the tendency to grow at an oblique or horizontal angle.
postical of the position of plant parts, behind another part.
ptyxis (Greek) the way in which an individual leaf is folded in a bud.
radicant rooting from the stem.
rectipetality the tendency to grow in a straight line.
rectipetaly the tendency to grow in a straight line.
reptant creeping; crawling.
rosulate of leaves and bracts, arranged in little roselike clusters.
scandent climbing.
sessile stalkless.
sessility the quality of being sessile.
sinistrorsal of a climbing plant, rising helically and turning to the right.
sinistrorsally (Adv.) SINISTRORSAL, rising helically and turning to the right.
stratose in strata, layered.
stratous in strata, layered.
subsessile almost sessile.
succubous having the lower leaf-margin overlapping the leaf below, as in some mosses.
thermotropic bending towards or away from a heat source; (noun) a thermotropic plant.
twiny with a twining habit.
viminal of or pertaining to twigs.