stem_growth_habit

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• Label: Stem growth habit
• Entity URI: https://w3id.org/APD/traits/trait_0030023
• Type: categorical
• Definition: A whole plant [PO:0000003] phenotype [NCIT:C16977] trait that indicates the structure [PATO:0000141] and 3-dimensional extent [PATO:0001710] of a plant's vegetative shoot system [PO:0025607], including the position [PATO:0000140] of stems [PO:0009047], degree of branchiness [PATO:0002009], density [PATO:0001019] of branches [PO:0025073], and branch angles [PATO:0002326] relative to each other and the ground surface [sweetontology.net/realmSoil/Ground].;Trait characterising a stem's structure and 3-dimensional extent, including the position of stems, degree of branchiness, density of branches, and branch angles relative to other branches and the ground surface.
• Additional comments: This trait captures how a plant explores 3-dimensional space, with trait values predominantly adjectives that modify the core plant growth forms.
• Allowed values:

  value	description
  arborescent	Tree-like growth habit.
  bushy	Plant with much-branched branches. (Synonyms, shrubby)
  caespitose	Multiple short-shoots arise from the base of the plant forming a dense tuft, as in a bunch-grass. (Synonyms, cespitose, bunch-grass, tussock)
  climbing	Stem that does not have a self-supporting structure and ascends by leaning on or attaching itself to surrounding vegetation or another substrate. Climbing mechanisms include tendrils, petioles, adventitious roots, scrambling, and twining and are distinguished between in the trait `plant_climbing_mechanism`.
  compact	Plant with closely packed branches.
  creeping	Stem that creeps along the ground, rooting at nodes. (Synonyms, repent)
  cushion-forming	Multiple erect, short stems arise from the soil and are so tightly packed that they form dense, even, rounded canopy with no gaps. (Synonyms, cushion)
  decumbent	Stems whose bases lie flat on the ground but whose tips grow upward. (Synonyms, ascending)
  dense	Plant with a high density of branches.
  erect	Stems that grow upright.
  floating	Plant where most of the leaves are floating on water.
  mat-forming	Multiple stems that are mostly horizontal and are densely packed but open enough that there are still a few gaps between them.
  open	Plant with an open architecture of branches.
  prostrate	Stems lie flat on the ground but do not root at nodes. (Synonyms, procumbent, reclining, trailing)
  rhizomatous	Plants with short horizontal underground stems from which shoots emerge.
  rosette	Plants whose leaves radiate from a central point at or near ground level. (Synonyms, acaulescent, rosulate)
  spindly	Plants with weak, skinny branches.
  sprawling	Stem that sprawls across other plants or objects but lacks specialised climbing structures or mechanisms. (Synonyms, clambering, scandent)
  spreading	Plants with a notable horizontal extent, referring either to a broad tree canopy or a shrub or herb that spreads across the ground.
  stoloniferous	Plants with long horizontal branches either slightly belowground or aboveground, that root at their nodes or tips, producing new plants. (Synonyms, sarmentose)
  submerged	Plant where most of the leaves are submerged beneath the surface of a waterbody.
  tufted	Plant has a dense clump of leaves, either at the base of the plant or clusters of leaves growing close together higher on the plant. This term can refer to grasses, shrubs, or trees.

See the AusTraits Plant Dictionary (https://w3id.org/APD/traits/trait_0030023) for additional information about this trait.

Coverage

For this trait, AusTraits includes a total of 25,771 records. This includes:

• data for 15,434 species.
• data for 242 families.
• data from 31 datasets (see the portal Citations tab for a list of sources)