ligule

American  

[lig-yool] / ˈlɪg yul /

noun

Botany.

1. a thin, membranous outgrowth from the base of the blade of most grasses.

2. a strap-shaped corolla, as in the ray flowers of the head of certain composite plants.

---

ligule British  

/ ˈlɪɡjuːl /

noun

1. a membranous outgrowth at the junction between the leaf blade and sheath in many grasses and sedges

2. a strap-shaped corolla, such as that of a ray floret in the daisy

---

ligule Scientific  

/ lĭg′yo̅o̅l /

1. A straplike structure, such as the long flattened lobe of the corolla of a ray flower or a membranous or hairy appendage between the sheath and blade of a grass leaf.

---

Etymology

Origin of ligule

1595–1605; < Latin ligula; see ligula

Example Sentences

The ligule is a distinct fringe of hairs.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by Rangachari, K.

The ligule is a structure peculiar to grasses and it varies very much.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by Rangachari, K.

The ligule is a row of stiff long hairs.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by Rangachari, K.

The leaf-sheath is glabrous, loose and compressed, with a membranous auricle confluent with the truncate ligule.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by Rangachari, K.

Sometimes, in addition to the ligule, other appendages may be present in grass leaves as in Oryza sativa.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by Rangachari, K.