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Glite Dictionary
foliose

foliose

9.8
Having many leaves or parts that look like leaves
  • adjective
  • /ˈfoʊliˌoʊs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : folioso
  • The foliose ferns in the garden create a lush, green atmosphere.

Examples

  • This species of foliose lichen thrives in moist environments and adds beauty to the rocks.

  • Figure 27. Section through a lobe of a foliose gelatinous lichen.

    Academic text (2001)

  • In their natural habitat, foliose plants often provide shelter for small insects.

Synonyms

foliaceous
vsfoliose
  • Specialized
9.9

Having many leaves or looking like leaves on plants

is more general and not limited to plants or algae
foliaged
vsfoliose
7.4

Covered with many leaves like a tree or bush

allows leaf like parts as well as many full leaves
leaflike
vsfoliose
4.3

Having the shape or look of a leaf

emphasizes having multiple leaf parts rather than just resemblance
leaf-like
vsfoliose
4.2

Having the shape of a leaf

emphasizes having multiple leaf parts rather than only resemblance

How Leafy

leafy
28 1.6
foliose
  • Specialized
9.8
leafless
3 2.9

Surface Forms

foliose positive

Morphology

foliose = foliage (semi-transparent) = foli + ose

The adjective is formed with a leaf-related combining stem and the suffix '-ose' (meaning 'full of' in technical adjectives); the botanical sense is clear to those familiar with such stems but the combining form and suffix are not common in everyday English.

Etymology

Foliose comes from the Latin folium meaning 'leaf' and the ending -ose meaning 'full of'. So a foliose plant or lichen is literally 'full of leaves', which is why the word describes something with many leaves or leaf-like parts.