Definition of distichous in English:
distichous
adjective ˈdɪstɪkəsˈdistikəs
Botany (of parts) arranged alternately in two opposite vertical rows.
Example sentencesExamples
- Poaceae species present a conserved distichous phyllotaxy (leaf position along the stem) and share common properties with respect to leaf initiation.
- The rockweed shown at left, Fucus distichous, visible at low tide at the Berkeley Marina in California, is somewhat smaller.
- Castilla also has plagiotropic branches that are arranged continuously along monopodial trunks and bear distichous leaves.
- Phyllotaxy ranges from distichous to having 56 rows of leaves and is not restricted to Fibonacci numbers.
- The terms adaxial and abaxial are used conventionally, although there is no evidence of a shoot apex between the distichous leaves.
Derivatives
adverb
Botany Leaves of this species are distichously arrayed on horizontal branches, and often hang down by 10-40° from the horizontal plane.
Example sentencesExamples
- These initials are distichously arranged as would be found in teosinte or lateral branches of the maize tassel.
- The teosinte ear is composed of 5 to 10 distichously (in two ranks) arranged cupulate fruitcases.
- Each floret is in the axil of a chaffy bract and these are arranged spirally or distichously in spikelets.
- The leaves are simple and distichously arranged.
Origin
Mid 18th century: via Latin from Greek distikhos (see distich) + -ous.