cernuous

American  

[surn-yoo-uhs, sur-noo-] / ˈsɜrn yu əs, ˈsɜr nu- /

adjective

Botany.

1. drooping, as a flower; nodding.

---

cernuous British  

/ ˈsɜːnjʊəs /

adjective

1. botany (of some flowers or buds) drooping

---

Usage

What does cernuous mean? Cernuous means drooping or nodding, as with the flower on a plant. In botany, cernuous describes a plant or flower that is drooping or nodding. Some plants, like the bleeding heart, are naturally cernuous. The bleeding heart hangs by its own weight and grows healthily as a result. Other plants, like hyacinths, are meant to grow straight up. If hyacinths become cernuous, they are wilting or dying. Example: Your persimmons are cernuous because they are not getting enough water.

Etymology

Origin of cernuous

1645–55; < Latin cernuus falling forwards, face down; see -ous

Example Sentences

The stipe is usually white above, fuscous below, at the apex almost evanescent; hence the cernuous sporangia.

From The North American Slime-Moulds A Descriptive List of All Species of Myxomycetes Hitherto Reported from the Continent of North America, with Notes on Some Extra-Limital Species by MacBride, Thomas H. (Thomas Huston)

Sporangium large, depressed-globose, the apex umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous, dark purple in color; calyculus usually wholly wanting, the ribs united by weak fibers, which are easily torn asunder, allowing the ribs to curl up inwards.

From The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio by Morgan, A. P. (Andrew Price)

Physarella oblonga B. & C. Sporangium oblong, the apex re-entrant and confluent with the summit of the columella, the base obtuse or slightly umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous.

From The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio by Morgan, A. P. (Andrew Price)

Sporangium globose, the base umbilicate, stipitate, often cernuous; the wall a thin, violaceous membrane, rugulose and iridescent, covered with small, roundish or irregular white scales of lime.

From The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio by Morgan, A. P. (Andrew Price)

Sporangium depressed-globose, umbilicate at the apex, stipitate, cernuous, purplish-brown in color; the calyculus granulose within, occupying from one-fourth to one-third of the sporangium, the ribs united by firm, persistent fibers.

From The Myxomycetes of the Miami Valley, Ohio by Morgan, A. P. (Andrew Price)