Diaphote

/ˈdaɪəfoʊt/ noun

Definition

A plant that exhibits a growth pattern where new shoots emerge directly from the roots or base of the plant rather than the main stem.

Etymology

From Greek dia- (through, across) + phyton (plant, growth), literally meaning 'through-plant,' used in botany to describe specific growth patterns.

Kelly Says

Many trees and shrubs use diaphotic growth to survive damage—when a forest fire burns the main trunk, the plant's roots send up new shoots from the ground, allowing the plant to recover and spread wider than before.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.