lanuginose

Lanuginose is an adjective used in biology to describe surfaces that are covered with fine, soft, downy hairs or filamentous projections. The term implies a woolly or fluffy appearance resulting from minute trichomes or similar structures. It is derived from Latin lanugo, meaning down, with the adjectival suffix -inus or -ose forming the descriptive term.

In botany and plant sciences, lanuginose describes leaves, stems, seeds, or other structures bearing a dense, non-glandular pubescence of very fine hairs. The hairs are typically short and soft, and they can influence aspects such as leaf reflectance, temperature regulation, and moisture retention. In taxonomic descriptions, lanuginose is often contrasted with glabrous (hairless) and tomentose (densely woolly and often matted) surface types.

In zoology and entomology, lanuginose may be used to describe fur, setae, or other body coverings that are fine and wool-like, giving a soft appearance. In mycology and phycology, the term can describe surfaces of fruiting bodies or thalli that appear fuzzy or woolly due to fine hyphae or filaments.

See also: pubescence, trichome, tomentose, glabrous.