IPA: /əˈkrəʊpɛtəl/
KK: /əˈkrōˌpetl/
Referring to a process or growth that starts at the bottom and moves upward toward the top, often used to describe how certain plant parts develop.
The acropetal arrangement of leaves allows the plant to grow more efficiently towards the light.
Acropetal is formed from "acro-" (from Greek "akron", meaning top or peak) and "petal" (from Greek "petalon", meaning leaf or part of a flower). The term describes growth or development that occurs towards the top or apex of a plant, indicating a direction of growth.
Think of 'acro-' meaning 'top' and 'petal' referring to a part of a plant, which helps you remember that 'acropetal' describes growth that moves towards the top of the plant.