(of a lichen) having upright or pendulous branches.
‘This tome includes detailed entries on more than 800 foliose, fruticose, and crustose lichens; essays on the biology, structure, uses, and ecological significance of these plants; and hundreds of color photographs.’
‘Examples of fruticose microlichens include Calicium, Chaenotheca, Gyalideopsis, and Microlychnus.’
‘Where thriving foliose and fruticose lichens can be found, the environment is clean and healthy.’
‘In foliose lichens there is a lower cortex and in fruticose lichens the lower cortex is replaced by a central one.’
‘Lichens are traditionally classified into three growth forms: crustose, foliose, and fruticose.’
Origin
Mid 17th century from Latin fruticosus, from frutex, frutic- ‘bush, shrub’.
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips