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coleorhiza

American  
[koh-lee-uh-rahy-zuh, kol-ee-] / ˌkoʊ li əˈraɪ zə, ˌkɒl i- /

noun

Botany.

PLURAL

coleorhizae

  1. the sheath that envelops the radicle in certain plants and that is penetrated by the root in germination.

coleorhiza British  
/ ˌkɒlɪəˈraɪzə /

noun

  1. a protective sheath around the radicle in grasses

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of coleorhiza

1865–70; < New Latin < Greek koleó ( n ) sheath, scabbard + rhíza root 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Germination.—In germination the coleorhiza lengthens, ruptures the pericarp, and fixes the grain to the ground by developing numerous hairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Coleorhiza, kol-ē-ō-rī′za, n. the root-sheath in endogens.

From Project Gutenberg

The sheath which envelopes the radicle is called coleorhiza and that of the plumule, pileole or germ-sheath.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.