decurrent

[ dih-kur-uhnt, -kuhr- ]

adjective

, Botany.

1. extending down the stem below the place of insertion, as certain leaves.

decurrent

/ dɪˈkʌrənt /

adjective

1. botany extending down the stem, esp (of a leaf) having the base of the blade extending down the stem as two wings

Derived Forms

• deˈcurrently, adverb

Other Words From

• de·currence de·curren·cy noun
• de·current·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of decurrent¹

1745–55; < Latin dēcurrent- (stem of dēcurrēns ) running down (present participle of dēcurrere, equivalent to dē- de- + currere to run); current

Word History and Origins

Origin of decurrent¹

C15: from Latin dēcurrere to run down, from currere to run

Example Sentences

Stems gregarious, erect or ascending from a creeping or decumbent base, slightly viscid, and with the mostly racemose short branches striate with about 4 sharp wing-like angles decurrent from the leaves; these broader than in the last, and mostly oblong, usually with all the lower ones opposite; flowers more crowded; sepals scarcely equalling the very small subglobose brownish pod; otherwise nearly as n. 1.—Wet or boggy grounds, E. Mass. to Lakes Ontario and Huron, Ill., and southward.

From Project Gutenberg

Rather stout, flexuose, creeping at base; leaves rather distant, decurrent on both sides, ciliate-dentate, the lower lobe obovate, obtuse, slightly convex, the upper cordate, acute, concave; perianth densely ciliate; capsule large, roundish-ovate, reddish-brown.

From Project Gutenberg

Achenes flat, obovate, winged or wingless, at maturity spreading in all directions; pappus of 2 or 3 smooth persistent awns.—Tall branching perennials, with serrate feather-veined leaves, tapering to the base and mostly decurrent on the stem.

From Project Gutenberg

Achenes terete or flattish; pappus a single row of capillary rough bristles.—Woolly herbs, with sessile or decurrent leaves, and clustered or corymbed heads; fl. in summer and autumn.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaves decurrent on the stem, forming prickly lobed wings, pinnatifid, rough and bristly above, woolly with deciduous webby hairs beneath, prickly; flowers purple.

From Project Gutenberg