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Glite Dictionary
basal placentation

basal placentation

8.8
One or a few ovules grow at the base of the ovary in some flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈbeɪsəl pləˌsɛnˈteɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : placentación basal
  • In basal placentation, the ovules are attached to the base rather than the sides or center.

Examples

  • The sunflower exhibits basal placentation, with its ovules clustered at the bottom of the ovary.

  • Plant species with basal placentation can be distinguished by the position of their ovules in the ovary.

  • The basal placentation in orchids is quite fascinating.

  • Many plants exhibit basal placentation for seed development.

  • In basal placentation, the ovules develop at the base of the ovary, which is characteristic of certain flowering plants.

  • Plant species that feature basal placentation typically have their ovules attached centrally at the bottom of the ovary structure.

  • The basal placentation observed in species like sunflowers shows how the ovules are supported at the base instead of the sides.

Surface Forms

basal placentation singular
basal placentations plural

Morphology

basal + placentation

The phrase is directly compositional: 'basal' denotes 'at the base' and 'placentation' denotes the arrangement/placement of ovules, so together they mean placentation occurring at the base of the ovary. This is a standard adjective + noun formation (location + biological process) that a learner who knows both constituents can infer.

Etymology

Basal placentation comes from a simple image: basal means 'base' and placentation shows how the 'ovules' are placed. In plants with basal placentation, the 'ovules', the future seeds, sit at the bottom of the 'ovary', so the name tells you where the ovules are.