PARASTICHY Meaning and
Definition
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A parastichy, a term commonly used in botanical and mathematical contexts, refers to a distinctive arrangement pattern observed in certain plant structures, particularly in the arrangement of leaves around stems or the arrangement of seeds in spirals. It is characterized by the spiral-like or helical arrangement of these structures around a central axis. The word "parastichy" is derived from the Greek words "para" meaning "beside" or "near" and "stichos" meaning "a row" or "a line".
In the context of phyllotaxis, the study of leaf arrangement, parastichies describe the phenomenon where consecutive leaves or leaf primordia appear to emerge along spiral paths or curves on the stem. These spirals may be defined by mathematical ratios, such as the famous Fibonacci sequence, in which the number of parastichy rows closely follows a sequence of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers.
Similarly, parastichies can also be observed in the arrangement of seeds in certain plants, such as sunflowers or pinecones. The seeds are arranged in a spiral manner, forming a distinctive pattern that can be mathematically described. This pattern is often related to efficient packing and distributing of resources, as well as providing optimal access to sunlight.
Overall, parastichy is a term used to describe the regular spiral or helical arrangement of leaves or seeds around a central axis, often exhibiting a mathematical relationship between the arrangement pattern and the number of structures involved, playing a crucial role in the growth and adaptation of various plant species.
Common Misspellings for PARASTICHY
- oarastichy
- larastichy
- -arastichy
- 0arastichy
- pzrastichy
- psrastichy
- pwrastichy
- pqrastichy
- paeastichy
- padastichy
- pafastichy
- patastichy
- pa5astichy
- pa4astichy
- parzstichy
- parsstichy
- parwstichy
- parqstichy
- paraatichy
- paraztichy
Etymology of PARASTICHY
The word "parastichy" is derived from the Greek words "para" meaning "beside" or "alongside", and "stichos" meaning "row" or "line". In botany, a parastichy refers to the spiral pattern of leaves or other organs that are arranged in such a way that they are aligned in rows alongside each other. The term was coined by the botanist Roger Jean Antoine deFremery and introduced into English language in the 20th century.
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