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

Erythrina crista-galli: circumnutation and nyctitropic movement of terminal leaflet, 3 3/4 inches in length, traced during 25 h.; apex of leaf 3 ½ inches from the vertical glass.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

Though we cannot account for this fact, we can see that such a stock might readily give birth to species having widely different nyctitropic habits.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

Oxalis bupleurifolia: circumnutation and nyctitropic movement of terminal leaflet, with filament affixed along the midrib; traced on a vertical glass from 9 A.M. on June 26th to 8.45 A.M. 28th.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

But owing to the causes specified in the beginning of this chapter, it is impossible in some few cases to determine whether or not certain movements should be called nyctitropic.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles

WE now come to the nyctitropic or sleep movements of leaves.

From The Power of Movement in Plants by Darwin, Charles