Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 3, 2026

Terete

Terete is a term in botany used to describe a cross section that is circular, or like a distorted circle, with a single surface wrapping around it. That is usually contrasted with cross-sections that are flattened, with a distinct upper surface that is different from the lower surface. The cross-section of a branch in a tree is somewhat round, so the branch is terete. The cross section of a normal leaf has an upper surface, and a lower surface, so the leaf is not terete. However, the fleshy leaves of succulents are sometimes terete. Fruticose lichens are terete, with a roughly circular cross section and a single wrap-around skin-like surface called the cortex, compared to foliose lichens and crustose lichens, which have a flattened cross section with an upper surface that is distinct from the lower surface.

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Wikipedia ↗
Terete raceme of Kniphofia with a cross section of a peduncle. A: An inflorescence of this plant B: The terete peduncle of another inflorescence of the plant C: A cross section of such a peduncle, practically circular source ↗

Terete is a term in botany used to describe a cross section that is circular, or like a distorted circle, with a single surface wrapping around it.1 That is usually contrasted with cross-sections that are flattened, with a distinct upper surface that is different from the lower surface. The cross-section of a branch in a tree is somewhat round, so the branch is terete. The cross section of a normal leaf has an upper surface, and a lower surface, so the leaf is not terete. However, the fleshy leaves of succulents are sometimes terete. Fruticose lichens are terete, with a roughly circular cross section and a single wrap-around skin-like surface called the cortex, compared to foliose lichens and crustose lichens, which have a flattened cross section with an upper surface that is distinct from the lower surface.1

Plants and lichens may also be described as subterete, meaning that they are not completely terete.

References

References

  1. Lichen Vocabulary, Lichens of North America Information, Sylvia and Stephen Sharnoff, [1] Archived 20 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine