OSTIOLATE Meaning and
Definition
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The term "ostiolate" refers to the specific characteristic or feature of having ostioles. An ostiole is a minute opening or pore found on the surface of certain plant structures, such as fruits, perithecia (a type of fruiting body in certain fungi), or on the apothecia (the cup-shaped structures) of some lichens.
Ostioles serve various purposes depending on the organism they are found in. In plants, especially certain types of fruits like figs, ostioles act as the exit points for the escape of seeds or pollen. They can also provide a passage for the entry of pollinators or beneficial organisms involved in the plant's reproductive process. In fungi, ostioles act as the exit points for the dispersal of spores, which are reproductive structures vital in the life cycle of fungi. They allow spores to be released into the environment, facilitating their dispersal and potential colonization in suitable habitats.
When something is described as "ostiolate," it means that it bears ostioles or has the characteristic of having these tiny openings or pores. This term is commonly used in scientific contexts, particularly in botany and mycology (the study of fungi), to describe the presence or structure of ostia on specific organisms or tissues. The presence of ostioles can vary greatly between different species and is an important feature for taxonomic identification and classification.
Common Misspellings for OSTIOLATE
- osteolite
- Osteolate
- istiolate
- kstiolate
- lstiolate
- 0stiolate
- 9stiolate
- oatiolate
- oztiolate
- oxtiolate
- odtiolate
- owtiolate
- osriolate
- osfiolate
- osgiolate
- osyiolate
- os6iolate
- os5iolate
- ostuolate
- ostjolate
Etymology of OSTIOLATE
The word ostiolate is derived from the Italian word ostiolato, which comes from the Latin word ostiolatus. In Latin, ostiolatus is the past participle of ostiolare, which means to make or provide with an opening or small mouth. The word ostiolate was created by adding the English suffix -ate (indicating possession of a certain quality) to the Latin stem ostiol- (related to ostium, meaning opening or doorway). Therefore, ostiolate literally means possessing an opening or having small mouths.
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