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cauliflory

cauliflory

1 9.9
Flowers and fruit that grow directly from the trunk or main branches of a tree
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔːlɪˌflɔːri/
  • Specialized
: caulifloria
  • Botanists study cauliflory to understand how certain plants adapt to their environments.

Examples

  • Some tropical trees exhibit cauliflory, making it easier for animals to access their fruit.

  • The cacao tree displays cauliflory, with its fruit growing directly from the trunk.

  • The cauliflory of the jackfruit tree is quite fascinating.

  • Many tropical trees exhibit cauliflory as a unique growth pattern.

  • The mango tree exhibits cauliflory, producing fruits directly from its thick trunk.

  • An example of cauliflory can be seen in the cacao tree, which bears pods on its main branches.

  • Many tropical trees, such as the jackfruit, show cauliflory by flowering and fruiting directly from their trunks.

Surface Forms

cauliflory singular
cauliflories plural

Morphology

cauliflory = cauliflorous (opaque) = cauli + flor + y

The term is formed from Latin combining forms ('cauli-' and 'flor-') into a technical adjective and then a noun; these components are not productive standalone English words for B1 learners.

Etymology

Cauliflory comes from the Latin parts cauli- ('stem') and flor- ('flower'), and you can remember 'cauli' from the common word cauliflower. So, cauliflory means flowers and fruit that grow directly from a tree's trunk or main branches.