labellum

American  

[luh-bel-uhm] / ləˈbɛl əm /

noun

Botany.

• labella
  plural

1. the petal of an orchid that differs more or less markedly from the other petals, often forming the most conspicuous part; the lip.

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labellum British  

/ ləˈbɛləm /

noun

1. the part of the corolla of certain plants, esp orchids, that forms a distinct, often lobed, lip

2. a lobe at the tip of the proboscis of a fly

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• labelloid
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• labella
  plural

Etymology

Origin of labellum

1820–30; < Latin, diminutive of labrum lip; for formation see castellum

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

labellum labella

This includes the labellum, a part of the orchid flower that attracts insects and serves as a landing pad.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 24, 2018

This includes the labellum, a part of the orchid flower that attracts insects and serves as a landing pad4.

From Nature ● Jan. 22, 2018

Dun-purple, also, is the centre of the labellum, edged with a distinct band of lighter hue, which again, towards the margin, becomes white.

From About Orchids A Chat by Frederick Boyle

The ordinary structure of the flower with its three sepals, two petals, labellum, column; and inferior ovary, is well known.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Maxwell T. Masters

The unimpregnated bloom falls off at its appointed date, as everybody knows; but if fertilized it remains entire, saving the labellum, until the seed is ripe, perhaps half a year afterwards—but withered, of course.

From About Orchids A Chat by Frederick Boyle

Distiproboscis: the outer third of the proboscis in Muscid flies, bearing the labella.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith

Pseudo-trachea: the ringed and ridged grooves on the labella of Diptera, by means of which they scrape their food.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith

The peculiarities of these flowers," writes Professor Gray, "are that they have three labella, and that the column is resolved into small petaloid organs.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Maxwell T. Masters

Flabs: the lobes at the tip of the dipterous mouth:= labella; q.v.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith

Capitulum: a small head: the enlarged tip of an antenna: the little knob at tip of halteres in Diptera: the labella or lapping tip of the mouth of certain flies.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith