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Habit & Form

• Message 1. 

  Posted by DibDobDeb (U2527950) on Monday, 16th January 2006

  Please can anyone tell me what the difference is between 'habit' and 'form' when describing plants? Would also be useful if you could give examples. Many thanks

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by William (U2169036) on Monday, 16th January 2006

  The habit of growth or vegetative feature is the general aspect or mode of growth of a plant, it may be low-growing, tall, erect, prostrate, spreading, trailing, bushy, and so on.  
  
  I suppose growing form and growing habit are synonyms.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Olpharty (U2504503) on Monday, 16th January 2006

  Please can anyone tell me what the difference is between 'habit' and 'form' when describing plants? Would also be useful if you could give examples. Many thanks 
  
  The way I understand the two words as used in connection with plant descriptions, is that 'form' is a definite shape a plant grows into such as 'columnar', rounded, etc. 'Habit' on the other hand is used to describe how a plant grows, for example, has a 'habit' of sprawling when allowed to get too large.
  
  Form = definite shape; habit = how it grows.
  
  I think the two words are also sometimes used to mean the same thing but then that happens a lot these days with the English language...........

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by DibDobDeb (U2527950) on Monday, 16th January 2006

  So would you say that a phormium for instance has a spiky form or have a spiky habit?

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• Message 5

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  Posted by William (U2169036) on Monday, 16th January 2006

  Delving a bit deeper
  
  Habit: Characteristic type of development, growth or existence; general appearance.
  
  Form: A small but constant variation within a population of plants, such as a white-flowered plant in a normally purple-flowered population.
  
  As in "It's a form of life Jim." 
  "but with a nasty habit mr Spock...." 
  
  You might say Habit is the habitual appearance and way to grow and develop of a specific species(variety), and the form might be a specific characterisable deviation within that general habit.
  
  Ho hum....

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by DibDobDeb (U2527950) on Monday, 16th January 2006

  That's very helpful - I think!!
  
  Thank you very much.

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