haptotropism Bot.
(ˌhæptəʊˈtrəʊpɪz(ə)m, -ˈtrɒpɪz(ə)m, hæpˈtɒtrəpɪz(ə)m)
[ad. G. haptotropismus (L. Errera 1884, in Bot. Zeitung 5 Sept. 564), f. Gr. ἅπτειν to fasten: see tropism.]
The phenomenon whereby plant organs, as the tendrils of climbing plants, exhibit tropic movements in response to the stimulus of touch. Hence haptoˈtropic a.
| 1892 L. Errera in Ann. Bot. VI. 373 Thus, the geotropic, heliotropic, hydrotropic, haptotropic curvatures arise, which are familiar to vegetable physiologists. 1900 B. D. Jackson Gloss. Bot. Terms 118/2 Haptotropism, curvature induced in climbing plants by the stimulus of a rough surface. 1924 M. Skene Biol. Flowering Plants iv. 298 The response to contact stimulus is termed haptotropism. 1934 Webster, Haptotropic. 1953 Fritsch & Salisbury Plant Form & Funct. (rev. ed.) xxix. 263 Certain tropic growth-curvatures result from direct contact with a foreign body and are described as haptotropic. 1965 Bell & Coombe tr. Strasburger's Textbk. Bot. (new ed.) 375 Many plants..are sensitive to touch... This phenomenon is termed haptotropism (thigmotropism). |