acanthocladous
adj. C2 Proficiency acan·tho·cladous
adj. having leaves that are covered in small, sharp points or spines. You might see this in some types of plants that grow in dry or hot areas.
adj. characterised by leaves that are armed with small, sharp spines or prickles. Often used to describe plants in the family Acanthaceae or specific species with such defensive structures.
The acanthocladous leaves help the plant survive in the desert.
Botanists identified the plant as acanthocladous due to the dense covering of tiny spines on its foliage.
The acanthocladous nature of the plant's leaves serves as a primary defense mechanism against herbivores, while also reducing water loss through transpiration in arid environments.