In botany, the labellum (or lip) is the part of the flower of an orchid or Canna, or other less-known genera, that serves to attract insects, which pollinate the flower, and acts as a landing platform for them.
Labellum (plural: labella) is the Latin diminutive of labrum, meaning lip.
The labellum is a modified petal and can be distinguished from the other petals and from the sepals by its large size and its often irregular shape. It is not unusual for the other two petals of an orchid flower to look like the sepals, so that the labellum stands out as distinct.[1]
In orchids, the labellum is the modified median petal that sits opposite from the fertile anther and usually highly modified from the other perianth segments. It is often united with the column and can be hinged or movable, facilitating pollination. Often, the orchid labellum is divided into three or more lobes. Some have modified fleshy lumps on the upper surface generally referred to as the callus (plural: calli), with some being divided into multiple ridges or a central keel. When the callus is flat and broad, it is sometimes called a plate, which can have fringed margins. The callus can be highly modified with striking colors that may aid in pollinator deceit and mimicry.[2][3]
The labellum in orchids is often large and complex enough that terminology describing relative positions for structures on it becomes useful: the hypochile is the basal portion nearer the connection with the rest of the flower, the mesochile is the middle portion, and the epichile is the distal portion.[2]
^Bailey, L. H.Gentes Herbarum: Canna x orchiodes. (Ithaca), 1 (3): 120 (1923); Khoshoo, T. N. & Guha, I. Origin and Evolution of Cultivated Cannas. Vikas Publishing House.
^ abDressler, R.L. 1993. Phylogeny and Classification of the Orchid Family. Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press. pp. 29-30.
^Kurzweil, Hubert; Kocyan, Alexander (2002). "Ontogeny of orchid flowers". In Kull, Tiiu; Arditti, Joseph (eds.). Orchid Biology: Reviews and Perspectives, VIII. Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 83–138. ISBN1-4020-0580-6.
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March 08, 2023
labellum, botany, other, uses, labellum, disambiguation, botany, labellum, part, flower, orchid, canna, other, less, known, genera, that, serves, attract, insects, which, pollinate, flower, acts, landing, platform, them, showy, lady, slipper, cypripedium, regi. For other uses see Labellum disambiguation In botany the labellum or lip is the part of the flower of an orchid or Canna or other less known genera that serves to attract insects which pollinate the flower and acts as a landing platform for them Showy lady slipper Cypripedium reginae has a pink labellum P PetalumS SepalumL Labellum Labellum plural labella is the Latin diminutive of labrum meaning lip The labellum is a modified petal and can be distinguished from the other petals and from the sepals by its large size and its often irregular shape It is not unusual for the other two petals of an orchid flower to look like the sepals so that the labellum stands out as distinct 1 In orchids the labellum is the modified median petal that sits opposite from the fertile anther and usually highly modified from the other perianth segments It is often united with the column and can be hinged or movable facilitating pollination Often the orchid labellum is divided into three or more lobes Some have modified fleshy lumps on the upper surface generally referred to as the callus plural calli with some being divided into multiple ridges or a central keel When the callus is flat and broad it is sometimes called a plate which can have fringed margins The callus can be highly modified with striking colors that may aid in pollinator deceit and mimicry 2 3 The labellum in orchids is often large and complex enough that terminology describing relative positions for structures on it becomes useful the hypochile is the basal portion nearer the connection with the rest of the flower the mesochile is the middle portion and the epichile is the distal portion 2 Gallery Edit Labellum of a Phalaenopsis hybrid Orchis italica the naked man orchid showing a labellum divided into several lobes Labellum of the orchid Laelia superbiens showing five wavy ridges of the callus Labellum with highly modified calli in a species of ChiloglottisSee also EditGlossary of botanical termsReferences Edit Bailey L H Gentes Herbarum Canna x orchiodes Ithaca 1 3 120 1923 Khoshoo T N amp Guha I Origin and Evolution of Cultivated Cannas Vikas Publishing House a b Dressler R L 1993 Phylogeny and Classification of the Orchid Family Portland Oregon Dioscorides Press pp 29 30 Kurzweil Hubert Kocyan Alexander 2002 Ontogeny of orchid flowers In Kull Tiiu Arditti Joseph eds Orchid Biology Reviews and Perspectives VIII Kluwer Academic Publishers pp 83 138 ISBN 1 4020 0580 6 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Labellum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Labellum botany amp oldid 1078413853, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
