Meaning & use
haustoria
Last updated
Specialized root-like structures that parasitic plants or fungi use to penetrate a host and absorb its nutrients and water.
See it in a sentence
Mistletoe attaches to tree branches using haustoria that tap directly into the host's vascular tissue.
Under the microscope, the fungal hyphae had formed haustoria within the leaf cells.
A note on using this word
"Haustoria" is the plural of "haustorium," from the Latin "haurire," meaning "to drink" or "draw up," reflecting the structure's role in siphoning nutrients.
Words with a similar meaning
feeding structures
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