A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Ocrea (also Ochrea): “a tubular membranous stipule through which the stem passes. It is formed by the consolidation of two opposite stipules” (Lindley); “a tubular stipule, or pair of opposite stipules so combined” (Jackson); a tubular stipule or confluent pair of elongate stipules, often associated with Polygonum; (in Palms) an extension of the leaf sheath beyond the petiole insertion; (in mosses) the vaginula, q.v., or upper part of the vaginula; (in mosses) the ring or sheath enveloping the base of the seta, derived from the base of the archegonium and remaining after separation of the calyptra (C&A); [in mosses; as ochrea], vaginula, or upper part of the vaginula (Magill 1990); (in fungi) “a term used by some authors for that type of armilla formed when the universal veil becomes dissociated into more or less fugacious debris which clothes or sheathes the stipe instead of being membranous and expanding into a distinct collarette (Gilbert, 1947)” (S&D): ocrea,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. ocrea, nom. pl. ocreae, acc. pl. ocreas, dat. & abl. pl. ocreis [> L. a greave or legging, a protective (semi)sheath for the leg]; (in mosses) vaginula,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. vaginula, nom. pl. vaginulae, acc. pl. vaginulas, dat.& abl. pl. vaginulis; see colesule, epigonium, sheath, vaginula;

NOTE: neither in classical Greek or Latin is ‘ocrea’ spelled with a ‘ch’ as though it derived from a word with a ‘chi’ as in the word for ‘ochra,’ representing a color. The ‘ch’ alternative spelling of ‘ocrea’ is not classical.

NOTE: knEmis,-idos (s.f.III), “a greave or piece of armor from knee to ankle, = Lat. ocrea; > Gk. knEmE (s.f.I), the part between the knee and ankle, the leg, Lat. = tibia” (Liddell & Scott).

- ocrea cylindracea longiore usque ad prope basem capsulae extendenti differt, it differs by the ocrea cylindraceous, longer, up to near the base of the capsule extending.

- [Polygonac.] petiolo saepius basi plus minus dilatato amplexicauli, ibidemque saepe membranaceo-marginato, margine cum ocrea stipulina membranaceo-scariosa intrapetiolari caulem vaginantem continuo (B&H), with the petiole more often at the base more or less dilated, clasping the stem, and in the same place often membranaceous-margined, with the margine continuous with a stipuline ocrea, membranaceous-scarious, intrapetiolar, sheathing the stem.

- herbae suffruticesve ocrea nulla, herbs or subshrubs with o ocrea.

- ocreis variis saep fere obsoletis (B&H), with the ocreae varous, often almost undeveloped.

- ocreae scariosae, truncatae, margine saepe ciliatae (B&H), the ocreae scarious, truncate, at the margin often ciliate.

- stipulis in ocream truncatam v. obliquam v. utrinque acuminatam integram laceram v ciliatam connatis (B&H), with the stipules fused into a truncat or slanted or on both sides acuminate, entire, lacerate or ciliate ocrea.

- ocreae truncatae v. obliquae, nec scariosae (B&H), the ocreae truncate or slanted, not scarious.

- ocreis laxis, integris v. laceris, marcescentibus (B&H), with the ocreae loose, entire or lacerate, withering and persistent.

- ocreae scariosae saepe hyalinae, primum vaginantes, mox lacerae v. evanidae (B&H), the ocreae scarious, often hyaline, at first sheathing, soonlacerated or disappearing.

- ocreae variae, cylindraceae v. laxae v. laxiusculae, membranaceae v. tenues parvae et mox evanidae, the ocreae various, cylindric or loose or somewhat loose, membranaceous or thin, small and soon disappearing.

Stipule, “processes of various kinds arising from the base of a leaf, and usu. from its sides” (Lindley).