Apheliotropism is a scientific term that is used to describe the phenomenon where plants grow towards the sun. This term is derived from the Greek words “apheliotes” which means “away from the sun” and “tropism” which means “to turn”. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of apheliotropism, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
Apheliotropism is a type of phototropism where plants grow away from the sun. It is a natural response of plants to light and is an important factor in their growth and development. This phenomenon is observed in many plant species and is a result of the plant’s ability to detect the direction of light and adjust its growth accordingly.
Origin
The term apheliotropism was first coined in the early 20th century by the German botanist Gustav Gassner. He observed that some plants grew away from the sun and proposed the term apheliotropism to describe this phenomenon. Since then, this term has been widely used in the scientific community to describe the growth of plants in response to light.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, apheliotropism is “the tendency of some plants to turn away from the sun”. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the growth of a plant away from the sun”. Both definitions highlight the same phenomenon of plants growing away from the sun.
Associations
Apheliotropism is associated with the growth and development of plants. It is an important factor in the survival of many plant species as it helps them to maximize their exposure to light and energy. This phenomenon is also associated with phototropism, which is the growth of plants towards light.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for apheliotropism, including heliotropism, negative phototropism, and skototropism. These terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same phenomenon of plants growing away from the sun.
Antonyms
The antonym of apheliotropism is positive phototropism, which is the growth of plants towards the sun. This phenomenon is observed in many plant species and is an important factor in their growth and development.
The same root words
Apheliotropism is derived from two Greek words: “apheliotes” which means “away from the sun” and “tropism” which means “to turn”. Other words that are derived from the same root words include heliotropism, which means “the growth of plants towards the sun”, and geotropism, which means “the growth of plants in response to gravity”.
Example Sentences
- The sunflower exhibits apheliotropism by turning its face away from the sun as it moves across the sky.
- The plant’s growth was affected by apheliotropism, causing it to bend away from the light source.
- The scientist studied the phenomenon of apheliotropism in different plant species to understand its role in their growth and development.