diatropism

Diatropism is a botanical term describing a plant's tendency to orient itself perpendicularly to a stimulus. This is a type of tropism, which is a directional growth response of a plant to an external stimulus.12

Specifically, diatropism refers to plant organs positioning themselves at a right angle to the direction of the stimulus. This contrasts with orthotropic movements, which are directed toward the stimulus, and plagiotropic movements, which are oblique to it. Examples of related tropisms include diaphototropism, where leaves orient themselves perpendicular to light, and diageotropism, where organs grow at a right angle to gravity.1234