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Pigment [ Botany - Biology ]
Adjective: Pigmented
Derived form: Pigmentation

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

     
  A pigment is any colouring material in plant or animal cells  
     

Pigment is any of the substance in plant or animal cells that give colour to tissues and organs which is the result of selective absorption, as chlorophyll, anthocyanin, betalain, carotene etc.  Nearly all types of cells, such as epidermis, stems, flowers and fruit contain pigment. Creatures that have deficient pigmentation are called albinos.
There are four main classes of plant pigment:

Chlorophylls and carotenoids are insoluble in water and have a particular function (photosynthesis and protection of chlorophyll)
Flavonoids and betalains are water soluble pigments and  are responsible for many of the intense colours in vegetables, flowers and fruits.

Pigmentation [ Botany - biology ]
Synonym: Chromatism, Coloration, Colouration
Antonym: Discoloration, Depigmentation.
     
 
  1. The natural coloration of living tissues of plants and animals due to concentration of pigments.
  2. The deposition of pigment by cells in animals, plants or human beings.
 
Compare with: Discoloration,   Depigmentation
 

 


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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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