nodule

[Jeff J. Doyle]

>
>PO:0003023
>name: nodule
>def: Enlargement or swelling on the roots of plants, particularly in the
>Fabaceae, inhabited by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

There are also what are called "stem nodules" in some legumes (the 
papilionoid genus Sesbania is the prime example, but the caesalpiniod 
Neptunia also has nodules on floating stems).  Stem nodules are 
associated with adventitious roots, however, so the definition is not 
actually incorrect, even if the position of the roots in question is 
not typical.

--Jeff


-- 
Jeff J. Doyle
Professor, L. H. Bailey Hortorium, Department of Plant Biology, 
Cornell University
office: 259 Plant Science Building
tel: 607 255-7972 (lab: 607 255-1953); fax: 607-255-5407
http://www.plantbio.cornell.edu/faculty.php?PB=jjd5

mailing address:

Department of Plant Biology
228 Plant Science Building
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-4301