nyctitropic

American  

[nik-ti-trop-ik, -troh-pik] / ˌnɪk tɪˈtrɒp ɪk, -ˈtroʊ pɪk /

adjective

Botany.

1. tending to assume at or just before nightfall positions unlike those maintained during the day, as the leaves or flowers of certain plants.

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Other Word Forms

• nyctitropism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of nyctitropic

First recorded in 1875–80; nycti- + -tropic

Example Sentences

Oxalis acetosella: circumnutation and nyctitropic movements of a nearly full-grown leaf, with filament attached to the midrib of one of the leaflets; traced on vertical glass during 20 h. 45m.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

That the various nyctitropic movements of leaves result from modified circumnutation has, we think, been clearly shown.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

Amphicarpoea monoica: circumnutation and nyctitropic movement of leaf during 48 h.; its apex 9 inches from the vertical glass.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

We have seen a similar difference in the nyctitropic movements of the cotyledons in the genus Oxalis.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

Nyctitropism and nyctitropic, i.e. night-turning, may be applied both to leaves and flowers, and will be occasionally used by us; but it would be best to confine the term to leaves.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles