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Glite Dictionary
caudex

caudex

9.9
A thick woody stem at the base of a plant that stores water and grows new shoots
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔːdɛks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : caudex
  • In xerophytic plants, the caudex stores water to sustain growth during dry periods.

Examples

  • The caudex acts like a reservoir, helping the plant survive extreme weather conditions.

  • The format is called the codex, from the Latin caudex for trunk of

    Blog text (32)

  • From the plays of Plautus, Foster has been known to teach his students such Latin insults as "vervex" (muttonhead), "vomitus" (a puke), and "caudex" (a block of wood, a blockhead).

    Academic text (1994)

  • The caudex of the plant provides a sturdy base from which new leaves can grow.

Synonyms

stock
vscaudex
  • Specialized
31 7.4

A thick part of a plant that new stems or flowers grow from

is the specific woody stem base near ground that produces new growth

Surface Forms

caudex singular
caudices plural

Etymology

Caudex comes from a Latin word meaning 'tree trunk' or 'wooden block', and the same root gave the English word codex because early books were written on wooden tablets. In plants, a caudex is like a thick little trunk at ground level that stores water and sends out new shoots, so the name fits the woody base that helps the plant survive and regrow.