a. Bot. [ad. mod.L. suffruticōsus, f. suffrutic-, SUFFRUTEX + -OSE.] Of the character of a suffrutex; woody at the base but herbaceous above.
1793. Martyn, Lang. Bot., Suffruticosus, Suffruticose, Undershrubby.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 430. Raspberries being suffruticose plants.
1842. Brande, Dict. Sci., etc., s.v., Lavender is an instance of a suffruticose plant.
1876. Harley, Mat. Med. (ed. 6), 362. Litmus Lichens are rigid suffruticose lichens.
So † Suffruticous a. Obs. rare.
1776. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., Explan. Terms 378. Suffruticosus, suffruticous, half-shrubby.
