nodus

Nodus is a term derived from Latin, meaning knot. In scientific and scholarly usage it has been employed to denote a knot-like, junctional, or connecting point in various contexts. Today, many of its applications have been supplanted by more precise terms such as node, notch, or nodule, but nodus remains encountered in historical literature and some specialized descriptions.

In botany, nodus refers to a node on a plant stem—the point where a leaf attaches and where axillary buds are typically found. This region marks the boundary between successive internodes and is a fundamental feature in describing stem morphology and growth patterns. While nodus is encountered in older or more descriptive texts, contemporary botanical writing usually uses node as the standard term.

In entomology, nodus denotes a specific notch or constriction in wing venation that creates a hinge-like point in the wing. This nodal feature can influence wing flexibility and folding and often serves as a diagnostic character in the taxonomy and phylogeny of certain insect groups, including orders such as Odonata and related lineages.

Beyond these uses, nodus has appeared in historical anatomical and textual contexts to describe knot-like structures, but such usages are not common in modern standard terminology. The term survives primarily in etymological references and in legacy scientific writings.

See also: Node; Wing venation; Nodule.