1. Plural of haustorium; root-like structures that certain parasitic plants use to penetrate and absorb nutrients from host plants.
Usage: biology; botany; technical

Examples

• Mistletoe plants develop haustoria that embed themselves into the branches of their host trees.
• The haustoria of parasitic flowering plants allow them to extract water and minerals directly from the xylem of their hosts.
• Under the microscope, the haustoria appeared as specialized penetrating structures with a complex internal anatomy.
• Dodder uses haustoria to tap into the vascular tissues of nearby plants for survival.
• The formation of haustoria is a key adaptation that enables certain plants to live as parasites.