A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Rostellum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. rostello: rostellum, beaklet, a small beak or rostrum; a rostel, “a narrow extension of the upper edge of the stigma of certain Orchids” (Lindley); “a little beak; a slender extension from the upper edge of the stigma in Orchids” (Fernald 1950); “1. a small beak; 2. applied by Linnaeus to the caudicle or radicle; 3. a narrow extension of the upper edge of the stigma of certain Orchids, the abortive anterior lobe; 4. the projecting free ends of perithecia in certain Fungi (Travers)” (Jackson) [> L. dim. of rostrum,-i (s.n.II), q.v., beak, snout];

“…the term glans [q.v.[ [is used] for an acorn or similar fruit and … glandula for the rostellar gland of Orchidaceae” (Stearn).

[Orchidaceae] Pollen powdery, or more or less collected into grains or waxy or mealy masses (pollinia); the masses free, or attached by their stalk (caudicle), to a gland or glands (retinacula) at the apex (rostellum) of the stigma (Bentley).

- rostelli lobus medius dentiformis angustia v. obsoletus (B&H), the middle lobe of the rostellum tooth-like, narrow or obsolete [i.e. rudimentary].

- [Orchideae] stigma in facie columnae inter alas v. costas saepius paullo infra rostellum situm (B&H), the stigma on the face [i.e. surface] of the column between the wings or ribs more often situated somewhat below the rostellum.

- [Orchideae] anthera 1, postica, erecta prona v. reflexa, loculis parallelis v. divergentibus distinctis clinandrio adnatis basique saepe in rostello continuis (B&H), anther 1, postical, erect, bent forward or reflexed, with the locules parallel or divergent, distinct [i.e. separate], adnate to the clinandrium and often continuous at the base into a rostellum [i.e. small beak].

- [Orchideae] stylus columna inclusus, filamentorum tubo adnato velatus, antico tamen inter alas v. costas columnae verisimiliter nudus, ad apicem columnae plus minus in rostellum productus horizontale v. erectum, antheram a stigmate separans (B&H), the style enclosed by the column, hidden in the adnate tube of filaments, however antically probably naked between the wings or ribs of the column, at the apex of the column more or less prolonged into a horizontal or erect rostellum, separating the anther from the stigma.

- [Orchideae] rostellum supra v. dorso saepius viscosum v. glandulam v. stipitem viscosum pollen excipientem exserens (B&H), rostellum above or on the back, more often viscous, protruding beyond either the glandule [i.e. retinaculum] or a viscous stipe [i.e. stalk] intercepting the pollen.

- [Aceras] pollinia in quoque loculo grosse granulosa, caudiculis brevibus, anthera dehiscente glandulae unicae intra sacculum rostelli affixis (B&H), the pollinia in each locule coarsely granulose, with short caudicles, with the anther dehiscing attached to a single glandule within the saccule of the rostellum.

- [Orchideae] pollìnarii glandula in sacculo a dorso rostello elevato inclusa (B&H), the glandule of the pollinarium enclosed in a sac from the back with an elevated rostellum.

Cirrhaea, > L. cirrus or cirrhus, tendril: “in allusion to the prolonged tendril-like rostellum of this orchid. Orchidaceae” (Stearn 1996).