What is "indumentum"

Indument \In"du*ment\, n. [L. indumentum a covering. See Indue, and cf. Induement.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) Plumage; feathers.

2. (Bot., Zo["o]l.) A dense covering, especially a hairy one; called also indumentum.

n. (cx botany English) A surface covering of any kind of trichomes, e.g. hairs, scales.

1. n. a covering of fine hairs (or sometimes scales) as on a leaf or insect [syn: indument]

2. [also: indumenta (pl)]

In biology, an indumentum ( Latin, literally: "garment") is a covering of trichomes (fine "hairs") on a plant or of bristles (rarely scales) of an insect.

In plants, indumentum types include:

• pubescent
• hirsute
• pilose
• villous
• tomentose
• stellate
• scabrous
• scurfy

The indumentum on plants can have a wide variety of functions, including as anchorage in climbing plants (e.g., Galium aparine), in transpiration control, the reflection of solar radiation, increasing water-repellency (e.g., in the aquatic fern Salvinia), in protection against insect predation, and in the trapping of insects ( Drosera, Nepenthes, Stylosanthes).

The use of an indumentum on insects can also be pollen-related, as on bees, sensory like whiskers, or for varied other uses including adhesion and poison.