MERICLINAL Meaning and
Definition
-
Mericlinal is an adjective that pertains to plants or plant structures, especially floriculture, and describes a specific pattern of growth or arrangement. It refers to the distribution of cells or tissues in the meristem, which is the area of plant tissue where growth occurs.
In a mericlinal arrangement, the growth or divisions of cells occur in a radial or circular manner around a central point or meristem. This leads to the formation of concentric rings or bands of cells, which can be seen in various plant structures.
In horticulture and floriculture, mericlinal refers to a specific technique used in propagation. Mericlinal propagation involves taking a small section or cell from the outer layer of a plant that has desirable traits, such as disease resistance or variegated coloration. This section is then cultured in a laboratory to produce a new plant that retains those desirable attributes.
The mericlinal technique is often used to produce ornamental plants with distinct patterns or colors, as it allows for the preservation and multiplication of these unique features. It can also be employed to propagate plants that are difficult to reproduce by other means, such as through seeds or cuttings.
In summary, mericlinal describes a growth pattern in which cells or tissues in a plant are arranged radially around a central point or meristem. It is also associated with a specific propagation technique used in horticulture to produce new plants with desirable traits.
Etymology of MERICLINAL
The word "mericlinal" does not have a clear etymology as it seems to be a relatively uncommon term specific to certain scientific fields, particularly botany and genetics. The word is a combination of two components: "meri-" and "-clinal".
"Meri-" is derived from the Latin word "merus", meaning "pure" or "undivided". It denotes something that is complete or unadulterated.
"-Clinal" comes from the Greek word "klinein", meaning "to incline" or "to lean". It is often used to form words related to slopes, gradients, or variations in a continuous scale.
Therefore, "mericlinal" appears to describe something that is undivided or pure in relation to a continuous gradient or variation. However, without more specific context, it is challenging to establish a precise etymology for this word.
