Bract
Bract
Bract (/brækt/), from the Latin bractea, meaning a thin piece of metal, is a term used in botany. It refers to a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves and may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture.
Etymology
The term bract is derived from the Latin bractea, which means a thin piece of metal. This is likely a reference to the often thin, leaf-like nature of bracts.
Related Terms
- Inflorescence: The complete flower head of a plant including stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers.
- Leaf: The main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants.
- Flower: The seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs that are typically surrounded by a brightly colored corolla and a green calyx.
- Cone: A solid or hollow object which tapers from a circular or roughly circular base to a point.
- Scale (botany): A small rigid plate that grows out of an organism's skin to provide protection.
See Also
References
- Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology. Jones & Bartlett Learning. 2016.
- The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms. Cambridge University Press. 2001.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bract
- Wikipedia's article - Bract
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