Definition: The word "arthrobranchia" comes from a Greek word meaning "garden," referring to the part of the tree trunk where branches come together, giving rise to a thickening process known as arthroplastia. Definition: Arthroplastia is a term used in botany to refer to the process by which a tree's branches emerge and expand after they have been wounded. This process can be caused by a variety of factors such as fire, wind, or disease, causing the branchlets to break away from their parent branches. For example, if a tree has been weakened by frostbite, the branches will break apart in an arthroplastia pattern, which is why it's often called "arthrobranchia."