nucellus

American  

[noo-sel-uhs, nyoo-] / nuˈsɛl əs, nyu- /

noun

Botany.

nucelli plural

1. the central cellular mass of the body of the ovule, containing the embryo sac.

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nucellus British  

/ njuːˈsɛləs /

noun

1. the central part of a plant ovule containing the embryo sac

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nucellus Scientific  

/ no̅o̅-sĕl′əs /

nucelli plural

1. The megasporangium of a seed-bearing plant, located in the ovule. In angiosperms, it is the central portion of the ovule in which the embryo sac develops. In some cases of apomixis (production of seeds without fertilization), cells of the nucellus develop into an embryo.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nucellar
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• nucelli
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nucellus

1880–85; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin nuc- (stem of nux ) nut + -ella -elle

Example Sentences

The remainder of the nucellus and the integuments of the ovules form the seed-coats.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various

The integuments do not completely invest the apex of the nucellus, but an opening termed the micropyle is left.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

A young ovule consists of a conical nucellus surrounded by a single integument terminating as a two-lipped micropyle.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various

A papery remnant of nucellus lines the inner face of the woody shell, and, as in cycadean seeds, the apical portion is readily separated as a cap covering the summit of the endosperm.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various

The hilum or base of the seed, and the chalaza or base of the nucellus are united by means of the raphe r.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various