[a. F. spongiole (De Candolle), ad. L. spongiola asparagus-root (Columella), rose-gall (Pliny), dim. of spongia SPONGE sb.1]
1. Bot. The tender extremity of the radicle of a plant, characterized by loose sponge-like cellular tissue; a spongelet.
1832. Lindley, Introd. Bot., 77. In Pandanus the spongioles of the aerial roots consist of numerous very thin exfoliations of the epidermis.
1850. Daubeny, Atomic The., viii. (ed. 2), 244. The spongioles of the roots always contain an azotized material, which is from them transmitted to all the other parts of the plant.
1870. trans. Pouchet’s Universe (1871), 264. The water-lentil, which spreads its carpet of verdure on the surface of our pools, possesses nothing but spongioles.
2. = SPONGE sb.1 6 b. rare–1.
1884. Evang. Mag., June, 252. There are often seen on rose-bushes, small green mossy-looking tufts called ‘spongioles.’… These are … produced by a small insect.
