reticulated

Reticulated is an adjective meaning net-like or forming a network of interconnected lines or ridges. The word comes from Latin reticulatus, from rete meaning “net.” In science and related fields, reticulated describes patterns or structures that resemble a net or lattice, often with a regular, crisscross arrangement.

In botany, reticulation is used to describe leaf venation that forms a net-like network of veins, a pattern known as reticulate venation. Pollen grains or other microscopic surfaces may also display a reticulate texture, with a mesh-like appearance.

In zoology and related disciplines, the term appears in common names and descriptions of animals with net-like patterns. For example, the reticulated giraffe refers to a coat pattern characterized by a network of pale lines separating dark polygonal patches. The reticulated python is named for a similar net-like pattern along its body.

In anatomy, reticular refers to a delicate meshwork, notably reticular tissue composed of reticular fibers (type III collagen) that provides a supportive framework for organs such as the spleen, lymph nodes, liver, and bone marrow.

In evolutionary biology, reticulation describes network-like relationships resulting from processes such as hybridization or horizontal gene transfer, which can create interconnected lineages rather than a strictly branching tree.

Overall, reticulated conveys the idea of a net-like, interconnected pattern or structure, with usage that varies across disciplines.