Regrowth

Regrowth refers to the regrowth of tissues, organs, or ecosystems after loss or damage, as well as the regrowth of vegetation following disturbance. It encompasses processes that restore form, mass, and function, and is studied across biology, medicine, and ecology.

In plants, regrowth describes a plant’s ability to re-sprout after pruning, mowing, or injury. This relies on meristematic tissue in shoots and roots, stored carbohydrates, and favorable environmental conditions. Many perennials exhibit rapid regrowth, enabling crops, shrubs, and grasses to recover after harvest, grazing, or damage. Plant regrowth can occur through new shoots, lateral buds, or underground structures such as bulbs and rhizomes.

In animals, regrowth often means regeneration—the regrowth of lost tissues or organs. Examples include limb and tail regeneration in amphibians and reptiles, planarian and starfish regrowth, and liver regrowth in mammals after partial removal. Mechanisms vary by lineage but commonly involve stem or progenitor cells, signaling pathways, and sometimes dedifferentiation of mature cells to a more plastic state.

Limitations and variation are notable. Regrowth capacity differs widely among species and tissues, and it often declines with age. Some tissues heal by scarring rather than true regrowth, restoring only partial function. In ecology, regrowth describes vegetation and biomass recovery after disturbances such as fire, grazing, or logging, which can take seasons to decades and may alter community composition.