Indumentum

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In biology, an indumentum (Latin, literally: "garment") is a covering of trichomes (fine "hairs") on a plant [1] or of bristles (rarely scales) of an insect.

Contents

Indumentum of Echium vulgare EchiumVulgare-stengel-hr.jpg
Indumentum of Echium vulgare
Caducous hairs on a developing pitcher of Nepenthes chaniana Nepenthes chaniana 5.jpg
Caducous hairs on a developing pitcher of Nepenthes chaniana
Rust-colored indumentum on the underside of a leaf of the bog Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) Ledum groenlandicum 1-eheep (5097488087).jpg
Rust-colored indumentum on the underside of a leaf of the bog Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum)

Plants

The indumentum on plants can have a wide variety of functions, including as anchorage in climbing plants (e.g., Galium aparine ), in transpiration control, in water absorption ( Tillandsia ), the reflection of solar radiation, increasing water-repellency (e.g., in the aquatic fern Salvinia ), in protection against insect predation, and in the trapping of insects ( Drosera , Nepenthes , Stylosanthes ). Plant indumentum types include

Insects

The use of an indumentum on insects can be pollen-related as on bees, sensory like whiskers, or for other uses including adhesion and poison.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Peter Hadland; Heywood, Vernon Hilton (1963). Principles of Angiosperm Taxonomy. Princeton, New Jersey: Van Nostrand. p. 154. OCLC   552236.


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