Suffrutescent

Suffrutescent describes a plant growth form in which a plant retains a persistent woody base or crown from which new, herbaceous shoots arise each growing season. In suffrutescents, the primary above-ground tissue is non-woody and often dies back, while the base remains alive and lignified for multiple years.

Plants exhibiting suffrutescent habit range from small subshrubs to low shrubs. They are distinct from herbaceous perennials that die back completely to a tuber or root crown and from true shrubs whose above-ground parts persist season to season. The persistent base typically forms a caudex, a lignified crown, or another durable structure from which shoots regenerate.

Leaf persistence and growth habit can vary: some suffrutescents are evergreen, retaining foliage, while others are deciduous. The life cycle is perennial, with regrowth from the woody base after seasonal die-back or disturbance such as fire or drought, enabling resilience in challenging environments.

Etymology and usage: The term suffrutescent is descriptive and used mainly in floras and plant descriptions. It denotes a growth form intermediate between herbaceous perennials and shrubs, and in some classifications is treated as subshrubs or suffrutices. It is not a strict taxonomic rank but a way to describe plant architecture.