kolczaste

Kolczaste is a Polish adjective meaning "spiny" or "thorny." It is used to describe objects, plants, or animals that are covered with spines, thorns, or prickles. The term is descriptive rather than taxonomic and is common in field guides, horticulture, and ecological writing.

In botany, kolczaste plants have defenses against herbivory and sometimes reduced surface area to limit water loss. Spines can be modified leaves, stems, or other tissues. They vary in size and arrangement and may form dense thickets or solitary structures. Cacti and many succulent species are well-known examples; other kolczaste plants include certain thistles, hawthorns, and roses (which bear prickles rather than true spines). The term highlights appearance rather than a strict classification.

In zoology and paleontology, kolczaste structures occur in a range of organisms. Sea urchins and other echinoderms have long, movable spines; mammals such as porcupines and hedgehogs possess sharp quills or spines for defense. Spines also appear in invertebrates and some reptiles. Ecologically, spines play a defensive role, deter predators, and can influence plant community structure by reducing herbivory and competition.