velamen

[ vuh-ley-min ]

noun,plural ve·lam·i·na [vuh-lam-uh-nuh]. /vəˈlæm ə nə/.
  1. Anatomy. a membranous covering; velum.

  2. Botany. the thick, spongy integument or epidermis covering the aerial roots of epiphytic orchids.

Origin of velamen

1
1880–85; <Latin vēlāmen, equivalent to vēlā(re) to cover + -men noun suffix of result

Words Nearby velamen

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British Dictionary definitions for velamen

velamen

/ (vəˈleɪmɛn) /


nounplural -lamina (-ˈlæmɪnə)
  1. the thick layer of dead cells that covers the aerial roots of certain orchids and aroids and absorbs moisture from the surroundings

  2. anatomy another word for velum

Origin of velamen

1
C19: from Latin: a veil, from vēlāre to cover

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