Domatium (Noun)
Meaning
A part of a plant (e.g., a leaf) that has been modified to provide protection for insects or mites or fungi.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The domatium on the underside of the leaf served as a cozy home for the beneficial mites that helped keep pests away from the plant.
- The unique shape of the domatium on the shrub provided the perfect shelter for the colony of aphid-tending ants.
- Scientists studying the peculiar plant discovered that the domatium contained specialized structures that allowed it to communicate with its fungal partners.
- The tiny spiders that lived in the domatium on the plant's leaves played a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem's delicate balance.
- The researcher carefully examined the intricate structure of the domatium on the orchid to better understand its symbiotic relationship with the inhabiting insects.