pappi
1
9.9
Fine hairs on seeds that help them float in the wind
- noun
- /ˈpæpi/
- Specialized
:
pápula
Examples
-
Pappi?
-
The pappi of the dandelion floats in the air, carried away by the wind.
-
When the breeze blows, you can see the pappi of the milkweed seeds dancing around.
-
The gardener explained that the pappi helps the plant's seeds spread to new areas.
Synonyms
hair
vspappi
36
6.8
Fine soft threads on a plant's surface like the fuzz on a peach
is specialised for dispersal by wind rather than general surface outgrowths
thistledown
vspappi
1
8.9
Soft feathery bits on thistle seeds that float in the wind
is generally bristly and describes fine seed hairs across many plant types
9.9
A small group of thin hairs on a seed that helps it float in the wind
is attached directly to seeds rather than to the calyx aiding wind spread
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word pappi comes from the Latin pappus, and before that the Greek pappos, which means 'old man'. People thought the soft hairs looked like an old man's beard, so pappi are the tiny 'parachutes' that help seeds (like dandelion fluff) float on the wind.