cespitose

9.9

Growing in small, dense clumps like tufts of grass

adjective
/ˈsɛspɪˌtoʊs/

Specialized

: cespitoso

Many alpine plants exhibit a cespitose growth habit to survive harsh weather.

Examples

The cespitose grass formed a thick mat across the hillside.
The cespitose grass created a lush green carpet in the garden.
Botanists classified the species as cespitose due to its dense, tufted clumps.
In spring, the cespitose plants bloom beautifully.
Many alpine plants exhibit a cespitose growth habit to survive harsh weather.
Botanists classified the species as cespitose due to its dense, tufted clumps.
The cespitose grass formed a thick mat across the hillside.

Synonyms

tufted

vscespitose

4.4

Growing in small, dense clumps

has identical meaning but is an alternative term

thickset

vscespitose

6.1

Plants or trees that grow very close together and form a crowded group

focuses on small separate clumps rather than uniform density

How Clumped

cespitose

Specialized

9.9

scattered

1 3.5

solitary

191 4.6

Surface Forms

cespitose positive

Morphology

cespitose = cespit + ose

Formed from the Latin combining form 'cespit-' + the adjective-forming suffix '-ose', but 'cespit' is not a standalone English word, so learners cannot transparently infer the meaning.

Etymology

Cespitose comes from the Latin root caespes, which means 'turf' or 'sod'. Think of small patches of turf or grass: plants that grow like little tufts or clumps, so cespitose describes plants that form dense, tufted growth.