vesiculiferous

Vesiculiferous is an adjective used in biology and geology to describe something that contains or produces vesicles. Vesicles are small, fluid-filled sacs or cavities. In biology, this term can refer to cells or tissues that are characterized by the presence of numerous vesicles. These vesicles can serve various functions, such as storage, transport, or secretion of substances within an organism. For example, certain types of plant cells might be described as vesiculiferous if they contain large numbers of storage vesicles.

In geology, the term vesiculiferous is often applied to igneous rocks, particularly volcanic rocks. When magma or lava cools, dissolved gases within it can form bubbles. As the rock solidifies, these gas bubbles can be trapped, creating small cavities within the rock. Rocks with a significant number of these cavities are termed vesiculiferous. This texture is common in rocks like scoria and pumice, where the abundance of vesicles can make the rock quite lightweight and porous. The size, shape, and distribution of these vesicles are important characteristics for petrologists in classifying and understanding the formation conditions of volcanic rocks.