Botany

Phytosemiotics is a branch of biosemiotics that studies the sign processing capabilities present in plants. Some functions that plants perform that utilize this simple semiosis includes cellular recognition, plant perception, intercellular communication, and plant signal transduction. Comparative to the sign processing present in animals and humans, phytosemiotics occurs at the cellular level, with communication between the cells of plants acting as a means of observing their surroundings and making rudimentary decisions.

thumb|Erica glomiflora thumb|Struthiola myrsinites in flower. Note ericoid habit. The word "ericoid" is used in modern biological terminology for its literal meanings and for extensions. Ericoid could have more than one meaning, but in practice the most common use is in reference to a plant's habit, to describe small, tough (sclerophyllous) leaves like those of heather. Etymologically the word is derived from two Greek roots via Latin adaptations. First, the Ancient Greek name for plants now known in English as "heather" was "ἐρείκη", believed to be Latinised by Pliny as "Erica". Carl Linnaeus

concept in botany

independent centre for plant research