Acrogenous (Adjective)
Meaning
Pertaining to flowerless plants (ferns or mosses) in which growth occurs only at the tip of the main stem.
Classification
Relational adjectives (pertainyms).
Examples
- Mosses exhibit acrogenous growth patterns, where new cells are added to the tip of the main stem.
- In acrogenous plants like ferns, the oldest cells are found at the base of the stem, while the newest cells are at the tip.
- The characteristic acrogenous growth habit of liverworts allows them to thrive in environments with limited light and water.
- Many types of non-vascular plants, including hornworts and liverworts, have acrogenous growth, with cell division confined to the tip of the main axis.
- Ferns, like all vascular cryptogams, are characterized by their acrogenous development, in which new tissue is formed at the distal end of the main axis.