Teretis
/TER-eh-tis/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
Also known as: terete
A morphological epithet describing a stem, leaf, or other organ that is perfectly cylindrical and smooth in cross-section — round like a pencil, without angles, grooves, or ribs. Terete leaves are common in succulents and in plants adapted to reduce water loss. Appears as teretis (both genders).
Etymology
From Latin teres/teretis, meaning "rounded," "smooth," or "cylindrical," from terere (to rub smooth).
Example
“Asparagus officinalis has the terete, smooth-cylindrical stems that give the genus its characteristic pencil-like quality, and many succulent Senecio species have terete leaves that minimise surface area to reduce water loss.”