a. Veg. Phys. [mod. f. Gr. ἄκρο- (see ACRO-) + L. pet-ĕre to seek + -AL 1, after analogy of centripetal.] Tending towards the summit or apex; said of the order in which the parts of a plant arise, when the course of development is from below upward.
1875. Bennett & Dyer, trans. Sachs’ Bot., 149. Similar lateral members usually arise on the common axial structure in acropetal or basifugal order, i.e. the younger a member is, the nearer it is to the apex; counting from below upwards the members arise in the order of their age.
1882. Nature, No. 636, 236. Is the ramification in plants everywhere and always acropetal? by M. Trécul. He is led to a negative.
