Ligneux

Ligneux is a French adjective meaning woody, or composed of wood. In botanical and ecological contexts, it denotes plants or plant tissues that develop lignified or woody structural tissues (xylem) and have a perennial, lignified habit, typically trees, shrubs, or lianas, as opposed to herbaceous plants. The term is used to distinguish ligneux growth forms from herbaceous ones.

Etymology: From the Latin lignum “wood” via Old French ligneus, with the modern form ligneux. In English, the related adjective lignous is rare but exists; ligneux is the standard French term.

In forestry and wood science, ligneux materials are those that are woody in character, such as timber and woody biomass. The expression matière ligneuse is common for wood-based matter, including pulpwood and bioenergy feedstock. In ecology, vegetation can be described as ligneuse when it comprises trees and shrubs, forming woody cover, compared with non-ligneuse herbaceous communities.

Notes: The term is primarily descriptive and does not imply any particular density, quality, or commercial value; it simply indicates wood-like properties. See also lignin, lignocellulosic, wood, botany.