Camouflage

Camouflage [ Biology - Ecology ]

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

To remain indiscernible from the surrounding background. Camouflage is a way which allows an otherwise visible organism to hide by blending with its environment and this way to avoid predators, herbivores or to catch food.

Photo 1
Toumeya papyracantha

Camouflage is the method in which an animal or plant hides itself from a threat, changing its body shape or colour to blend into its surroundings.

For example:
(Photo 1), the cactus Toumeya papyracantha has spines shaped and coloured like the dried leaf of grass, and is very difficult to detect it in the grassland background.
(Photo 2) Pseudolithos migiurtinus
A plant camouflaged to resemble a stone

Photo 2
Pseudolithos migiurtinus

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Holdfast roots [ Botany ]
Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

Some species of climbing plants develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place.

Climbing plants, like the poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), develop holdfast roots which help to support the vines on trees, walls, and rocks. By forcing their way into minute pores and crevices, they hold the plant firmly in place. Usually the Holdfast roots die at the end of the first season, but in some species they are perennial. In the tropics some of the large climbing plants have hold-fast roots by which they attach themselves, and long, cord-like roots that extend downward through the air and may lengthen and branch for several years until they strike the soil and become absorbent roots.

Major references and further lectures:
1) E. N. Transeau “General Botany” Discovery Publishing House, 1994