A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Columella,-ae (s.f.I), abl. sg. columella, nom.pl. columellae, acc.pl. columellas, dat.& abl.pl. columellis: columella; “a little column; the firm center of the spore-case of an Urn-moss, from which the spores separate. The long axis round which the parts of a fruit are united, namely, the ripened growing point; a slender axis, over which the spore-cases of such Ferns as Trichomanes are arranged” (Lindley); (in bryophytes) the central axis of a capsule around which the spores develop; "the central, sterile tissue in the sporogenous region of a capsule in most mosses and hornworts" (Magill 1990); (liverworts) “the central column of the capsule in Anthoceros” (Damsholt); (in pollen) pillar-like elements, supporting a layer or crowned by a single element [> L. dim. of columna,-ae (s.f.I), see column];

Pollen; in structure and stratification of the wall: “pillar-like elements, supporting a layer or crowned by a single element. Columellae may be well developed, moderately well developed, or reduced in size” (Radford et al.).

- [algae] sporae quam in Chrysymenia majores sunt et singula serie ex placenta radiatim exeuntes, in perisporio hyalino singulae nidulantes. Placenta in Ch. ovali et Ch. mediterranea basalis est, in Ch. parvula in columellam centralem producta (Agardh), the spores which in Chrysymenia are larger and arise in a radiating manner from the placenta, [each one individually] embedded in a hyaline perisporium. The placenta in Ch. ovalis and Ch. mediterranea is basal, in Ch. parvula prolonged into a central columella.

NOTE: Columnula,-ae (s.f.I)), q.v., dim. of columna,-ae (s.f.I), column, pillar; see column: = (in mosses) the columella,-ae (s.f.I).

-[moss] columella pro more emergens capitata (C. Muell.), the columella as is customary [i.e. usually], emerging [i.e. partially exposed], capitate.

- [moss] columella in theca matura quater lacerata dentibus adglutinata (C.Muell.), the columella in the mature theca four times lacerated, glued to the teeth.

- [moss] columella longe emergente (Austin) with the columella far [partially] exserted.

- [Caryophylleae] Ovula 2-oo (excepta Quería), funiculis e fundo ovarii ortis liberis v. in columellam centralem coalitis affixa (B&H), ovules 2 to [indeterminate] (Queria excepted), with the funiculi arisen from the base of the ovary free or fused, attached on the central columella.

- ovarium 1-loculare, 2-ovulatum; ovulis columella centrali insertis (B&H), the ovary 1-locular, 2-ovulate; with the ovules inserted on the central columella.

- valvis columellam angulato-alatam nudantibus (B&H), with the valves exposing an angled-winged columella.

- fructus columella centrali seepius relicta (B&H), fruit with the central columella more often relictual.

- capsula lignosa, vulgo depresso-globosa, loculicide dehiscens, columella persistente (B&H), the capsule woody, commonly depressed-globose, loculicidally dehiscent, with the columella persistent.

- capsula columella nulla, the capsule with columella none.

- columella persistente late triquetra v. 3-alata (B&H), with the columella persisting, broadly 3-angled or 3-winged.

- carpella 3-5, ángulo interno basi columellae pyramidatae adnata (B&H), carpels 3-5, adnate to the inner angle at the base of the pyramidate[i.e. pyramid-shaped] columella.

NOTE: (in fungi) “a sterile central axis within a mature fruit body... (in Gasteromycetes, after Cunningham)” (Ainsworth & Bisby); “a persistent, sterile, axial body within a sporangium or fruit body” (S&D);

- [Licea; fungi] Columellam veram (i.e. peridiolo proprio distincto instructam, pulvere discolore farctam) nullam detegere licuit (S&A), it was permitted to discover no the true colummella (i.e. provided with a proper distinct peridiole, packed with a powder of a distinctly different color).

Axile columella: (in fungi) when [the columella is] an axis in the gleba” (Ainsworth & Bisby): columella axilis, abl. sg. columella axili [axile = axilis,-e (adj.B), positioned on the axis; (fungi) “(of columella of Gasteromycetes) penetrating the gleba as an axis” (S&D).

Dendroid columella, (in fungi) “[with the columella] having lateral branches, as in Gymnoglossum” (Ainsworth & Bisby): columella,-ae (s.f.I) dendroidea (adj.A).

NOTE: trabecula,-ae (s.f.I), q.v. (in fungi) “(of Agaricales) the primordium of a lamella; (of Gasteromycetes) plates of undifferentiated primordial tissue remaining in the developing gleba and forming the branches of the dendroid columella” (S&D).

Percurrent columella: (in fungi)”[with the columella] joining the peridium at the apex of [the] gleba” (Ainsworth & Bisby): columella,-ae (s.f.I) percurrens, abl. sg. columella percurrente.

Pseudocolumella,-ae (s.f.I): (in fungi) “embryonic tissue in the mature peridium of Geastrum” (Ainsworth & Bisby); see columella,-ae (s.f.I); “in the Gasteromycetes) the residue of embryonic tissue in the peridium of Geastrum; (of Physaraceae), Myxomycetes) lime knots in a columella-like mass in the center of the sporangium” (S&D).

Simple columella: (in fungi) “[a columella which is] not branched, as in Secotium” (Ainsworth & Bisby): columella,-ae (s.f.I) simplex, abl. sg. columella simplici.

Willdenow (p. 135:)

The case, (theca), is the fruit of the frondose Musci. It is a dry fruit that opens in the middle with a lid, and is furnished with particular parts. (p. 137:) The Seed-column, (sporangidium,-ii (s.n.II) seu columnula,-ae (s.f.I)), is a slender, thread-like body, that passes through the middle of the theca, and to which the seed [i.e. spore] is attached. It is analogous to that body which in a capsule is called by the same name.

- [fungus] Fig. 5- Diderma squamu1osum (a slime mold): (a) mole nativa; auctum (b) a latere, integrum (c) (d) desuper, plus minus laesum, columellam monstrans (S&A), Figure 5. Diderma squamulosum: a. in its natural body; magnified; b. from the side, entire; c. [and] d. from above, more or less damaged, showing the columella.

- Fructus: theca unilocularis (Sporangium) calyptra tecta. Sporangium e partibus tribus essentialibus compositum: Pars I centralis s. columella (plus minusve perfecta); pars II s. sporangidium, in quo semina nascuntur; pars III s. epidermis (C.Muell.), the fruit: a unilocular [i.e. with one cavity] theca (Sporangium) covered by a calyptra. Sporangium composed of three fundamental parts: Part I central [part] or [s. = seu] the columella (more or less perfect, that is, complete); part II or the sporangidium, in which the seeds [i.e. the spores] arise; part III or the epidermis.

NOTE: sporangidium,-ii (s.n.II), abl. sg. sporangidio: sporangidium “(obs.) the columella of urn-mosses” (Lindley). NOTE however, according to C. Mueller the sporangidium is not the columella but the spore-sac: see sporangidium,-ii (s.n.II).

NOTE: sporangiophore, “the axis or columella on which are borne the spore-cases of some Ferns” (Lindley): sporangiophorum,-i (s.n.II), abl.sg. sporangiophoro.

Pavonia Columella; Columella (genus) Malvinda.

Columellia,-ae (s.f.I). Named by Jacquin after the celebrated Geoponic writer, L. J. M. Columella, a Spaniard, who flourished about forty two years A.C. Collumelliaceae. Columelliaceae: a small order consisting of evergreen shrubs or trees of no particular beauty — not far removed from Jasmines (Paxton).