How Do You Spell POLLINIUM?

Pronunciation: [pəlˈɪni͡əm] (IPA)

Pollinium is a botanical term used to describe the small masses of pollen characteristic of orchids. The word is spelled "pɒˈlɪniəm" in phonetic transcription. The first syllable, "pɒ", is pronounced like "pot" without the "t" sound. The second syllable, "ˈlɪniəm", has two distinct sounds: "lin" like "thin" with an "l" sound, and "iəm" like "ee-uhm" with a slight emphasis on the first syllable. Correct spelling and pronunciation of botanical terms, like pollinium, is important for accurate communication and understanding within the scientific community.

POLLINIUM Meaning and Definition

1. Pollinium (plural: pollenia) refers to a distinct structure found in certain flowering plants, specifically those belonging to the family Orchidaceae. It is a compact mass or packet of pollen grains that is bound together by a sticky substance known as viscin or viscidium. The viscin acts as a glue-like substance, holding the pollen grains together in a cohesive unit.

   The pollinium is a specialized adaptation that aids in the efficient transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organ (anther) to the female reproductive organ (stigma) during pollination. It serves as a single unit, allowing the entire mass of pollen grains to be transferred as a single entity. Typically, pollinia are positioned at specific areas of the orchid's flowers, often adjacent to the pollinator's body parts, to enhance successful pollination.

   When a pollinator, such as an insect or bird, visits an orchid flower, it inadvertently makes contact with the pollinium. As the pollinator moves on to another flower, the pollinium adheres to its body due to the sticky viscin. Consequently, the pollinator unwittingly transports the pollinium to another orchid of the same species, facilitating cross-pollination.

   The pollinium is an anatomically unique structure in the plant kingdom, primarily found in orchids, and serves as an effective mechanism for ensuring the transfer of pollen between flowers. Studies of the pollinium have provided valuable insights into the evolutionary adaptations of plants for successful reproduction.

2. A coherent mass of pollen grains.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for POLLINIUM

• polinium
• oollinium
• lollinium
• -ollinium
• 0ollinium
• pillinium
• pkllinium
• plllinium
• ppllinium
• p0llinium
• p9llinium
• poklinium
• poplinium
• poolinium
• polkinium
• polpinium
• pollunium
• polljnium
• pollknium
• poll9nium

Etymology of POLLINIUM

The word "pollinium" has its etymology rooted in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word "pollen", which means "fine flour" or "pollen". The suffix "-ium" in Latin is used to form nouns denoting a result, product, or means. Thus, "pollinium" can be understood as a noun form of "pollen" or a result or product related to pollen.

Similar spelling words for POLLINIUM

• pohlman,
• Pollman,
• polemonium,
• polynemidae,
• polynomial,
• polonium.

Plural form of POLLINIUM is POLLINIIA