Glossary

caudex

A caudex is the thickened, often woody base of a perennial herbaceous plant. It is located at or just below the soil surface, where it stores nutrients and sends up new stems and leaves each growing season.

Unlike roots, the caudex is part of the stem system and contains buds that sprout leaves, flowers, or new shoots during the growing season.

The caudex helps native plants survive drought, cold, and other seasonal stress by storing nutrients and protecting growing points. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, native species like California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) and Woolly Sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum) rely on their caudex to survive fire and seasonal drought.

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