noun
- a growth movement in plants in which the upper surface of an organ (such as a leaf) grows more rapidly than the lower surface, causing the organ to curve downward
Usage: botany; technical term
Examples
- Epinasty in tomato leaves can be triggered by exposure to ethylene gas.
- The downward curling of the leaf blade is a classic example of epinasty.
- Researchers observed epinasty in the seedlings after applying the plant hormone.
- Epinasty and hyponasty are opposite growth responses in plant physiology.