A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Bract, modified leaf surrounding reproductive organs or generally associated with the inflorescence; “the leaves placed immediately below a calyx, if they are at all altered from their usual form” (Lindley); (bryology) a modified leaf associated with a gametangium or gemma-cup; perichaetial leaf, a modified leaf or underleaf (bract; bracteole) associated with the gynoecium; collectively forming the perichaetium; perigonial leaf, a modified leaf or underleaf (bract; bracteole) associated with the androecium; collectively forming the perigonium” (Magill 1990); (Hepaticae)“a modified leaf protecting one or more antheridia (male bract); one of a pair of modified leaves protecting the archegonia or situated below the perianth (female bract)” (Paton): bractea,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. bractea, nom. pl. bracteae, acc. pl. bracteas, dat. & abl. pl. bracteis, lit.'a thin plate of metal;' see chaff; in Poaceae, see glume; in Juncus, see prophyll; see bracteole;

- bracteae concavae obtusae virides in apice juvenile inflorescentiae diu imbricatae, bracts concave blunt green at the young apex of the inflorescence for a long time imbricate.

- bracteae involucrales lineares, involucral bracts linear.

- bracteis intimis indivisis integrisque, with the innermost bract undivided and entire.

- bracteae ad ramificationes oppositae (B&H), the bracts opposite the ramifications [i.e. the places where the branch arises].

- spathae unisexuales, utriusque sexus 2-phyllae, bracteis complicatis, exteriore interiorem amplectente (B&H), spathes unisexual, both sexes 2-leaved, with the bracts folded together, the exterior one clasping the inner one.

- spathae unisexuales, diphyllae, bracteis a basi liberis, utriusque sexus l-florae (B&H), spathes unisexual, diphyllous, with the bracts at the base free, both sexes 1-flowered.

- flores ad axillas bractearum membranaceo-scariosarum breviter pedicellati (B&H), flowers in the axils of membranaceous-scarious bracts shortly pedicellate.

- bracteae nunc ovatae distichae, nunc angustae deciduae (B&H), bracts sometimes ovate, distichous, sometimes narrow, deciduous.

- pedunculi axillares, solitarii, 1-flori, bracteis paleaceis stipati (B&H), peduncles axillary, solitary, 1-flowered, enclosed by chaffy bracts.

- bractea appendiculam stipitiformem includens (B&H), the bract enclosing the stipe-shaped appendage (B&H), bract encompassing a stipe-shaped appendage.

- bracteae sub cymis nunc ovatae subimbricatae diu persistentes, nunc caducissimae minimae v. 0 (B&H), bracts below the cymes sometimes ovate, somewhat imbricate, lasting a long time, sometimes very caducous, very tiny or none.

Bractea involucralis (adj.B), abl. sg. bractea involucrali: involucral bract, (in bryophytes): “a sheath of foliar origin, derived by a fusion of the bracts surrounding a perianth” (Magill 1990).

Bracteae vacuae (adj.A): vacuus,-a,-um (adj.A): “empty; a term applied to cases when an organ does not contain what usually belongs to it. Bracts, which usu. support flowers, are called ‘vacuae’ when they have no flower in their axil” (Lindley).

NOTE: B&H (Compositae): flores involucro communi (periclinio Auct. plur.) e bracteis {squamis, phyllis v. phyllariis Auct. plur.) 1- [infinity sign] -seriatis liberis concretisve cincti, flowers surrounded by a common involucre (the periclinium of many authors), from bracts (scales, leaves or phyllaries of many authors) 1-indeterminately-seried, free or compound [fused together]; see phyllary, phyllum,-i (s.n.II), squama,-ae (s.f.I).

NOTE: tegula,-ae (s.f.I), abl.sg. tegula: tegule, an involucral bract of the involucre in the Asteraceae (Compositae), involucral scale, phyllary.

NOTE: valvulae (pl.f.I), valvulae (valvula) = “the bracts of Sedges” (Lindley).