A caudex (pl.: caudices) of a plant is a stem,[1] but the term is also used to mean a rootstock[2] and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.[3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Dicksonia_antarctica_%28Tasmanian_Fern_Tree%29.jpg/220px-Dicksonia_antarctica_%28Tasmanian_Fern_Tree%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Jatropha_cathartica2_ies.jpg/220px-Jatropha_cathartica2_ies.jpg)
In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most often used with plants that have a different stem morphology from the typical angiosperm dicotyledon stem:[1] examples of this include palms, ferns, and cycads.
The related term caudiciform, literally meaning stem-like, is sometimes used to mean pachycaul, thick-stemmed.[3]
Etymology
The term is from the Latin caudex, a noun meaning "tree trunk".[2][4]
See also
References
External links
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Look up caudex in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caudices.
- Bihrmann's Caudiciforms Extensive listing of caudiciforms, images for most species
- Wayne's Word Archived 2009-03-19 at the Wayback Machine Caudiciform Plants With An Enlarged Caudex
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