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Filament  [ Botany  ]

Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names

Synonyms: Fibre
     
  In a general meaning a filament is any thread-like body or structure;

In flower anatomy: The filament is a part of the androecium,  the fine hair-like basal sterile portion of a stamen that holds the anther on top.

 
     

The filament is the  stalk upon which the anther sits; together, the filament and anther make up the stamen, which is the male reproductive organ (in the flower) of a plant.
It is a (usually) slender or thread-like structure that supports the anther (a typically bilobed sac containing the pollen grains) in position for pollen dispersal.
The stamens collectively are normally located between the central pistil (flower's female reproductive organ ) and the surrounding petals.
 

 

 

Copiapoa lauii
The flowers has characteristic long filaments.

     

 


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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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