isotoma
isotoma Lexical Profile
• noun
A genus of herbaceous annual and perennial plants in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), native predominantly to Australia and New Zealand, characterized by star-shaped, deeply cut flowers and a toxic milky sap.
"The gardener planted blue star creepers, a popular species of isotoma, between the stepping stones to create a lush, blossoming path."
A widespread genus of springtails (hexapods) in the family Isotomidae, found globally inhabiting soil, moss, and leaf litter, distinguished by their equal-sized abdominal segments.
"Under the microscope, the entomologist identified the tiny soil-dwelling creature as an isotoma based on its distinct abdominal segmentation."
• Rhymes for isotoma
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Ancient Greek 'isos' (equal) and 'tomos' (cut or section). In botany, it refers to the symmetrically divided, equal corolla lobes of the flowers; in zoology, it refers to the roughly equal-sized abdominal segments of the springtails.