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Chlorophyll [ Botany - Biochemistry  ]
Adjective: Chlorophyllous

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

     
  Chlorophylls are blue-green or yellow-green photosynthetic pigment present in plant cell chloroplasts that can absorb and use light energy from sunlight into chemical energy to turn water and carbon dioxide gas into sugar and oxygen (this process is called photosynthesis).  
     
Chlorophyll molecule contains a central magnesium atom. The green colour of chlorophyll is due to its absorbance in the red and blue regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, which causes the light it reflects and transmits to appear green.
(compare with: Carotenoid, betalains, anthocyanin, flavonoids)
     

 


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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
   

 

 

 

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