Definition

Noun: A very young plant or a small plant, often one that has developed from a seed or a vegetative part and is still in an early stage of growth. It is typically smaller and more delicate than a mature plant.

Usage

The word "plantlet" is used to describe a small, young plant, often in the context of botany, gardening, or horticulture. It refers to the stage after a seed has germinated or after a new shoot has formed but before it has grown to full size.

Examples

• The gardener carefully transplanted the plantlets from the seed tray into individual pots.
• On the edge of the leaf, tiny plantlets had formed, ready to drop off and root in the soil.
• We studied the development from seed to plantlet in our biology class.

Advanced Usage

• In vitro plantlet: Refers to a small plant grown in a sterile laboratory environment, often for propagation or research.
  • The tissue culture lab produced hundreds of disease-free plantlets.
• The term is often used specifically for plants that reproduce asexually by forming miniature plants on their leaves or stems (e.g., spider plants, kalanchoe).

Variants and Related Words

• Seedling (n): A very young plant, especially one grown from a seed. (A "seedling" is a type of "plantlet," but "plantlet" can also arise from other forms of propagation).
• Sprout (n/v): A new growth from a seed or bud; can be used similarly but often for the very first shoot.
• Propagule (n): Any part of a plant used for propagation, which can develop into a plantlet.

Synonyms

• Young plant
• Seedling
• Sprout
• Shoot (when referring to a new, young growth)

Antonyms

• Mature plant
• Adult plant
• Full-grown plant

Noun

1. a young plant or a small plant