Botanical Nerd Word: Equitant

Phormium showing equitant leaf arrangement

Equitant: Of leaves, overlapping or straddling in two ranks, as the leaves of Iris.*

This Phormium (New Zealand Flax plant) in the library shows equitant leaf growth.

*Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd ed.). Spring Lake: Spring Lake Publishing.