Caudex

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The caudex of a tree fern resembles the trunk of a woody plant, but has a different structure. Dicksonia antarctica (Tasmanian Fern Tree).jpg
The caudex of a tree fern resembles the trunk of a woody plant, but has a different structure.
The caudex of Jatropha cathartica is pachycaul, with thickening that provides water storage. Jatropha cathartica2 ies.jpg
The caudex of Jatropha cathartica is pachycaul, with thickening that provides water storage.

A caudex (pl.: caudices) of a plant is a stem, [1] but the term is also used to mean a rootstock [2] and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises. [3]

Contents

In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most often used with plants that have a different stem morphology from the typical angiosperm dicotyledon stem: [1] examples of this include palms, ferns, and cycads.

The related term caudiciform, literally meaning stem-like, is sometimes used to mean pachycaul, thick-stemmed. [3]

Etymology

The term is from the Latin caudex, a noun meaning "tree trunk". [2] [4]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Hickey, M.; King, C. (2001). The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms. Cambridge University Press.
  2. 1 2 Stearn, W.T. (1992). Botanical Latin: History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary, Fourth edition. David and Charles.
  3. 1 2 Simpson, M.G. (2010). Plant Systematics: Second Edition. Elsevier Science. ISBN   9780080922089.pages 456 and 695
  4. "caudex - definition of caudex by The Free Dictionary". Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2014-07-15.

[1]

  1. "《塊根誌》∥植物販售∥造景設計∥專業課程∥植友交流∥". succulove.life. 27 April 2022.