Heteroblasty (botany)

Heteroblasty in a Mauritian species of plant, Tarenna borbonica

Heteroblasty is significant and abrupt change in form and function that occurs over the lifespan of certain plants. Characteristics affected include internode length and stem structure as well as leaf form, size and arrangement.[1] The earlier and later stages of development are commonly labelled as juvenile and adult respectively, particularly in relation to leaves.[2]

The term was coined by German botanist Karl Ritter von Goebel, along with homoblasty for plants with leaf characteristics that do not change significantly. Leonard Cockayne observed that heteroblasty occurred in an unusually high proportion of tree species native to New Zealand.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Zotz, Gerhard; Wilhelm, Kerstin; Becker, Annette (2011). "Heteroblasty—A Review". The Botanical Review 77 (2): 109–151. doi:10.1007/s12229-010-9062-8. ISSN 0006-8101.
  2. ↑ McCusker. "Flora of Australia Glossary". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Cockayne, Leonard (1912). "Observations concerning evolution, derived from ecological studies in New Zealand". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 44: 1–50.


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