sympodium

American  

[sim-poh-dee-uhm] / sɪmˈpoʊ di əm /

noun

Botany.

plural

sympodia

1. an axis or stem that simulates a simple stem but is made up of the bases of a number of axes that arise successively as branches, one from another, as in the grapevine.

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sympodium British  

/ sɪmˈpəʊdɪəm /

noun

1. the main axis of growth in the grapevine and similar plants: a lateral branch that arises from just behind the apex of the main stem, which ceases to grow, and continues growing in the same direction as the main stem Compare monopodium

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Other Word Forms

• sympodial adjective
• sympodially adverb

Etymology

Origin of sympodium

1860–65; < New Latin < Greek sym- sym- + pódion small foot, base; podium