Indumentum


In biology, an indumentum is a covering of trichomes on a plant or of bristles of an insect.
In plants, indumentum types include:
The indumentum on plants can have a wide variety of functions, including as anchorage in climbing plants, in transpiration control, in water absorption, the reflection of solar radiation, increasing water-repellency, in protection against insect predation, and in the trapping of insects.

The use of an indumentum on insects can also be pollen-related, as on bees, sensory like whiskers, or for varied other uses including adhesion and poison.
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