Node
/noʊd/
Definition
Node refers to the point on a plant stem where leaves, buds, branches, or flowers attach or can develop. It is a structural part of the shoot, distinct from the internode, which is the stem section between two nodes. Nodes contain tissues where axillary buds form, allowing new side growth. On vines and some houseplants, roots may also emerge from a node under suitable conditions.
Function in Plants
- Sites of new growth: A node is where buds can form leaves, side shoots, flowers, or roots, so it plays a central part in how a plant branches and replaces damaged growth.
- Control of stem pattern: The spacing between one node and the next affects a plant’s overall shape. Short spacing often gives a compact look, while long spacing can make growth appear stretched or leggy.
- Key point for propagation: Stem cuttings usually need at least one node because many plants produce new roots and shoots from tissues in that area rather than from the middle of an internode.
- Useful clue in identification: Botanists and gardeners often compare node placement and the arrangement of leaves or buds at each one when describing species and telling similar plants apart.
Related Terms
Internode
Internode refers to the section of a plant stem between two nodes, the points where leaves, buds, or branches attach…
Leaf axil
Leaf axil refers to the upper angle formed where a leaf stalk or leaf base joins the stem. It is a plant structure and…
Terminal bud
Terminal bud refers to the bud at the very tip of a stem or shoot. It contains the shoot apical meristem, a region of…
Stem
Stem refers to the main aboveground plant structure that supports leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits, and connects them…
Petiole
Petiole refers to the stalk that attaches a leaf blade to the stem. It is a plant structure found in many, but not all…