pneumatode

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πνεῦμα (pneûma) (breath) and ὁδός (hodós) (pathway)

Noun

pneumatode (plural pneumatodes)

1. (botany, histology) A group of cells with spiral secondary wall thickenings, present in a velamen; acts as an airway for gas exchange for respiration or photosynthesis
2. (botany, histology) A group of cells presumed to be specialised as an airway for ventilation of particular tissues.
   • 2015, R. H. V. Corley, P. B. H. Tinker, The Oil Palm, Wiley, →ISBN, page 144:

     The roots of palms are characterised by pneumatodes on both underground and aerial roots. These have been supposed to ventilate the underground roots, but direct physiological evidence for this is lacking.