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Glite Dictionary
cladode

cladode

9.9
A flat stem that looks like a leaf and makes food for the plant, for example in cactus plants
  • noun
  • /ˈklædoʊd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cladodio
  • In some plants, cladodes help conserve water by reducing surface area.

Examples

  • Scientists studied the cladode structure to understand its role in desert adaptation.

  • The cladode is essential for the cactus.

  • The cactus has cladodes that carry out photosynthesis in place of leaves.

  • Many plants have cladodes that help them survive.

  • The cactus's green cladodes soak up sunlight, allowing the plant to thrive in arid environments.

  • Many succulents have flat cladodes that serve both as stems and leaves.

  • In addition to its thorns, the prickly pear features flattened cladodes that are edible.

Synonyms

phylloclad
vscladode
  • Specialized
9.9

A flat stem that looks and works like a leaf

stresses that it is common in those plants rather than rare
cladophyll
vscladode
  • Specialized
9.9

A flat stem that looks like and works as a leaf

treats resemblance as normal rather than especially close
phylloclade
vscladode
  • Specialized
9.9

A flat stem that looks like a leaf and makes food for the plant

says it is common across those plants rather than especially in a few

Surface Forms

cladode singular
cladodes plural

Morphology

cladode = clad + ode

Formed from rare combining forms (clad- + -ode) that are not productive or familiar to average learners, so the meaning cannot be derived from common English base words.

Etymology

Cladode comes from the Greek klados meaning 'branch' and the ending -ode meaning 'like', so it literally means 'branch-like'. Today a cladode is a flattened stem that looks and works like a leaf, helping some plants make food from sunlight and save water.