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Longevity   [ Biology ]
Synonym: Long-livedness
Adjective: Longevous, Longeval

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

     
  Longevity is a long life or existence.  
     
The persistence of an individual for longer than most members of its species, or of a genus and/or species over a prolonged period of geological time.

The longevity is also the length or duration of life of an organism (life expectancy); in plants annual, biennial or perennial. Various factors contribute to an individual's longevity. Significant factors in life expectancy include genetics, environmental condition, growing condition, healthiness, nutrient availability.
Longevous (long lived)  plant species will live a long time after establishment but usually establish slowly (as compared to fast growing and short lived species) and once established, they will be content in their position and with their soil for years.
They are often found in habitat characterized by barren inhospitable climate (like deserts, artic regions, high mountain habitats, etc. ) many of them are small sized and grow extremely slowly;

Compare to survivorship
     

 


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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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