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The caudex of a tree fern resembles the trunk of a woody plant, but has a different structure.
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The caudex of Jatropha cathartica is pachycaul, with thickening that provides water storage.
A caudex (plural: 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]
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
References
- ^ a b Hickey, M.; King, C. (2001). The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b Stearn, W.T. (1992). Botanical Latin: History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary, Fourth edition. David and Charles.
- ^ a b Simpson, M.G. (2010). Plant Systematics: Second Edition. Elsevier Science. ISBN 9780080922089.pages 456 and 695
- ^ "caudex - definition of caudex by The Free Dictionary". Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
External links
- Bihrmann's Caudiciforms Extensive listing of caudiciforms, images for most species
- Wayne's Word Caudiciform Plants With An Enlarged Caudex