Stomata
/stoʊˈmɑːtə/noun
Tiny pores in the epidermis of leaves and other plant organs that regulate gas exchange and water loss.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek stóma, “mouth,” and in ancient scientific Latin the plural form stómata stuck as the standard term for these microscopic openings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“to stand, make firm”
Ancient Greek
Greek
στόμα (stóma)
“mouth; opening; the mouth of a river or cave”
Late Latin
Latin
stoma
“mouth; opening”
18th Century
New Latin
stomata
“plural term for tiny openings in plant tissue”
Modern English
English
stomata
“tiny pores on leaves and other plant surfaces”
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