Arborescens
/ar-boh-RES-enz/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
A habit epithet describing a plant that becomes tree-like — either a normally herbaceous or shrubby genus producing a tree-sized member, or a species that develops a woody trunk and tree-like stature over time. Appears as arborescens (both genders).
Etymology
From Latin arborescens, present participle of arborescere, meaning "to become a tree," from arbor (tree).
Example
“Ceanothus arboreus (tree ceanothus) and Euphorbia arborescens both grow to unexpected tree-like dimensions in sheltered conditions — living up to the tree-forming promise of their epithet.”