papilla
9.9
A small nipple-like bump on a plant part, like a petal or leaf
- noun
- /pəˈpɪlə/
- Specialized
:
pápila
- The petal surface is covered with tiny papillae that give it a velvety texture.
Examples
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Under the microscope, you can clearly see the papillae along the edges of the leaf.
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Many flowers have papillae that aid in pollination.
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Some orchids have prominent papillae at the tip of each petal.
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The papilla on this leaf is quite pronounced.
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Some orchids have prominent papillae at the tip of each petal.
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The petal surface is covered with tiny papillae that give it a velvety texture.
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Many flowers have papillae that aid in pollination.
How Prominent
Surface Forms
Etymology
Papilla comes from the Latin papilla, meaning 'nipple', so in plants the word describes tiny, nipple-like bumps or outgrowths on a petal or leaf.