pollinium

[ puh-lin-ee-uhm ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural pol·lin·i·a [p, uh, -, lin, -ee-, uh].

1. an agglutinated mass or body of pollen grains, characteristic of plants of the orchid and milkweed families.

pollinium

/ pəˈlɪnɪəm /

noun

1. a mass of cohering pollen grains, produced by plants such as orchids and transported as a whole during pollination

pollinium

/ pŏ-lĭn′ē-əm /

, Plural pollinia

1. A mass or packet of pollen grains specialized for transfer to other flowers as a unit by pollinating insects. Orchids and milkweeds produce pollinia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pollinium¹

1860–65; < New Latin, equivalent to pollin- (stem of pollen ) pollen + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of pollinium¹

C19: New Latin; see pollen

Example Sentences

If the pollinium was originally vertical, after a time it assumed a horizontal position.

From Project Gutenberg

In this latter case we have a pollinium in its most highly developed and perfect condition.

From Project Gutenberg

Pollinium of an Orchis (Habenaria), with its stalk attached to a sticky gland; magnified.

From Project Gutenberg