nucellus

American  

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

noun

Botany.

plural

nucelli

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 /

plural

nucelli

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

• nucellar adjective

Etymology

Origin of nucellus

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

Example Sentences

An ovule consists of a conical nucellus surrounded by a single integument.

From Project Gutenberg

The embryo-sac enlarges greatly, displacing gradually the surrounding nucellus, which eventually forms merely a thin layer around the sac, or completely disappears.

From Project Gutenberg

There are thus two integuments to the nucellus, an outer and an inner.

From Project Gutenberg

The nucellus is a cellular tissue enveloping one large cell, the embryo-sac or macrospore.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg