Scutellum (sweet grasses)

The term scutellum (variant of Latin scutulum "small shield", diminutive form of scutum "long shield ") or shield designates a shield-like suction organ ( haustorium ) in the grass fruit ( caryopsis ) of the sweet grasses , which has its origin in the cotyledon sheath. It is used to supply the embryo with the nutrients in the endosperm .

literature

• Peter Sitte , Elmar Weiler , Joachim W. Kadereit , Andreas Bresinsky , Christian Körner : Textbook of Botany . 35th edition, Spektrum, Heidelberg 2002, p. 814.

Web links

• Scutellum in the Lexicon of Biology .