aphercotropism

Definitions

The movement or growth of an organism away from an obstruction.

obsolete, uncountable

Examples

“Aphercotropism.— “Turning away from an obstruction” is a peculiarity discovered by Darwin. His experiment⟳ was as follows:— after allowing a radicle to be well developed in peas, beans, &c, the seed is suspended in the air. A tiny piece of card is attached to one side of the tip⟳ by a little gum; the tip⟳ will now move⟳ away from the vertical position, on the opposite side to the card. The tip⟳ may make⟳ one or more complete⟳ circles in a vertical plane; and it has been known to pass⟳ through the first loop so as to tie itself into a knot.”

CEFR level