Cauliflorous

/ˌkɔːlɪˈflɔːrəs/ adjective

Definition

Bearing flowers directly on the stem or trunk, rather than on branches or at the ends of twigs.

Etymology

From Latin 'caulis' (stem) plus 'florus' (flowering), literally 'stem-flowering'. Describes a specific botanical phenomenon observed in tropical trees.

Kelly Says

Cauliflorous trees are nature's rebels—cacao, fig, and dogwood trees bypass normal branching logic and bloom straight out of their trunks like wooden torches, which tropical insects find irresistible.

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