cladode

English

cladodes of Ruscus are leaf-like and photosynthetic

The photosynthetic stems of the Allocasuarina are not leaf-like, however still considered cladodes.

cladodes of Opuntia are flattened stems

Etymology

From New Latin cladodium, from Ancient Greek κλᾰ́δος (kládos, “young slip of a tree”).^[1]

Noun

cladode (plural cladodes)

1. (botany) A flattened organ arising from the stem of a plant, often replacing the leaves in photosynthetic function, as leaves in such plants (for example asparagus, butchers broom) are typically reduced to scales.^[2] [from 1870]^[1]
2. A generally flattened shoot as of certain cactuses.

Derived terms

• cladodial

 

Translations

flattened organ

Catalan: cladodi m Galician: cladodio m Polish: gałęziak (pl) m Portuguese: cladódio m Spanish: cladodio (es) m

See also

• phylloclade — a leaflike cladode, with unlimited extension growth

References

1. “cladode”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
2. Acquisition and Diversification of Cladodes: Leaf-Like Organs in the Genus Asparagus