STOLONIFERA Meaning and
Definition
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Stolonifera is a term derived from the Latin words "stolo" meaning "a shoot or sucker" and "infer" meaning "bearing or producing." As a biological term, stolonifera refers to a group of plants or organisms that have a specific growth habit or reproductive structure called stolons.
In botany, stolonifera describes plants that propagate or reproduce by sending out horizontal above-ground stems, known as stolons, which grow along the soil surface. These stolons have the ability to root at various intervals and give rise to new plantlets, thereby generating clonal colonies. Stolonifera plants are found in a range of plant families and include species such as strawberries, spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), and certain grasses like Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon). The use of stolons allows these plants to spread horizontally, enabling them to colonize new areas and compete for resources effectively.
In addition to the botanical context, stolonifera is also used in zoology to describe certain organisms that possess similar above-ground stem-like structures for reproduction or locomotion. For example, some types of marine invertebrates like hydroids (order Hydrozoa) and some jellyfish species (order Stauromedusae) have stolonifera characteristics.
Overall, stolonifera refers to the distinct growth habit of plants or organisms that produce above-ground stems or structures known as stolons, enabling them to propagate vegetatively or aid in locomotion.
Etymology of STOLONIFERA
The word "stolonifera" is derived from Latin, where "stolo" means "a shoot or branch that roots into the ground to form a new plant" and "fera" means "bearing". Therefore, "stolonifera" literally translates to "bearing stolons" or "stolon-bearing". The term is commonly used in taxonomy to describe plant species that have creeping stems known as stolons.
