Characterized by or covered with a dense mat of short, soft, matted hairs, resembling wool or felt. This coating, often found on plant surfaces like leaves, stems, or fruits, provides protection against water loss, intense sunlight, and herbivore damage. The individual hairs, though numerous, are usually fine and give a fuzzy, often whitish or grayish appearance to the surface. The density of the hairs can vary significantly, leading to different levels of tactile softness and visual opacity. The term is primarily used in botany, describing the surface texture of various plant structures. The specific properties of the tomentose covering, such as its thickness and color, can be important in species identification and ecological adaptation.
Tomentose meaning with examples
- The underside of the *Betula pubescens* leaves exhibited a distinct tomentose texture, a soft, downy fuzz that contrasted sharply with the smoother upper surface. This adaptation likely helps the tree regulate water loss in the dry environment. The tomentose nature was clear under observation, the hairs were tightly packed creating a clear visible defense.
- Examining the young stems of the *Artemisia absinthium*, the observer noted a thick, silvery tomentose layer. This felt-like coating gave the plant a striking appearance and helped to reflect sunlight in the arid conditions where it thrived. The silver tomentose coating made identification and classification easier and provided insight to its adaptation.
- The fruit of the *Prunus tomentosa*, the Nanking Cherry, displays a characteristic tomentose surface, giving it a slightly velvety feel. This attribute differentiates it from other cherry species. The tactile texture combined with the taste provides the user with unique identifiers and allows them to discern the various cherry species.
- The botanist carefully documented the tomentose indumentum (hair covering) on the underside of the *Verbascum thapsus* leaves. This feature, a key characteristic for identification, allowed the biologist to clearly differentiate from other possible plant species. Using the tomentose indumentum, a quick identification was found.
- During propagation, the cuttings from the *Salvia officinalis* were best identifiable from other species by the tomentose stems, the soft fuzz easily visible upon inspection. This texture aided in differentiation of the sage species from various similar plants, making organization of the propagation much easier.
Tomentose Crossword Answers
9 Letters
TOMENTOUS