For years I’ve been using the term “etiolation” to refer to plants that are stretching in low light conditions. Probably 90% of the sources you’ll see on Reddit and on blogs and guides will say this, and you wouldn’t think there’s anything wrong with that definition.
I got curious about the boundaries of what would be defined as etiolation, because in light shade, plants may be a bit taller/lankier and actually produce bigger leaves to capture more light. I saw some people characterizing that as “slight etiolation” but to me it seems like a different thing altogether than the more unsustainable stretching you see in plants in total darkness.
Turns out all of us are wrong. “Etiolation” refers to conditions where chloroplasts do not develop and remain as dormant etioplasts. It seems to refer to color only, and stem elongation is just something that nearly always occurs at the same time, so the definitions are confused.
Here’s a science source explaining this: https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/71/4/1215/5680819
I also saw that the physical structure of a seedling in low/absent light is called skotomorphogenesis, and when it contacts light it switches to photomorphogenesis.
After learning this, I’m getting somewhat negative responses from laypeople on Reddit telling me I’m wrong or that these differences are useless, so please resist the urge to do that; I want to know what botanists and other people who use scientific concepts think and how they use these terms. Here are my questions:
-
Does it sound like I have it right now?
-
Are the definitions always so cut and dry or do some scientific sources use the term “etiolation” more flexibly like laypeople do?
-
As far as I can tell, skotomorphogenesis refers to the growth program of seedlings in darkness, but what about the underground parts of older plants, such as stolons and buried stems? Is this called skotomorphogenesis too?
-
Is there a correct word for “slight” stretching in healthy, shade-adapted plants that would perhaps prefer more sun if they could get it?
Thanks!
I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but the amount of non-dad jokes here in this subreddit really annoys me. First of all, dad jokes CAN be NSFW, it clearly says so in the sub rules. Secondly, it doesn't automatically make it a dad joke if it's from a conversation between you and your child. Most importantly, the jokes that your CHILDREN tell YOU are not dad jokes. The point of a dad joke is that it's so cheesy only a dad who's trying to be funny would make such a joke. That's it. They are stupid plays on words, lame puns and so on. There has to be a clever pun or wordplay for it to be considered a dad joke.
Again, to all the fellow dads, I apologise if I'm sounding too harsh. But I just needed to get it off my chest.
Do your worst!
I'm surprised it hasn't decade.
For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.
I said "hey look, an escaPEA"
No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!
Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂
It really does, I swear!
They’re on standbi
Buenosdillas
Pilot on me!!
Dad jokes are supposed to be jokes you can tell a kid and they will understand it and find it funny.
This sub is mostly just NSFW puns now.
If it needs a NSFW tag it's not a dad joke. There should just be a NSFW puns subreddit for that.
Edit* I'm not replying any longer and turning off notifications but to all those that say "no one cares", there sure are a lot of you arguing about it. Maybe I'm wrong but you people don't need to be rude about it. If you really don't care, don't comment.
When I got home, they were still there.
What did 0 say to 8 ?
" Nice Belt "
So What did 3 say to 8 ?
" Hey, you two stop making out "
I won't be doing that today!
[Removed]
You take away their little brooms
This morning, my 4 year old daughter.
Daughter: I'm hungry
Me: nerves building, smile widening
Me: Hi hungry, I'm dad.
She had no idea what was going on but I finally did it.
Thank you all for listening.
There hasn't been a post all year!
