Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A small beaklike part, such as a projection on the stigma of an orchid or the hooked projection on the head of a tapeworm.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In botany: Any small beak-shaped process, as in the stigma of many violets; specifically, a modification of the stigma in many orchids, which bears the glands to which the pollen-masses are attached.
  • noun A Linnean term for the caulicle or radicle.
  • noun In zoology, the fore part of the head of tapeworms or other cestoids, bearing spines or hooklets which are said to be rostellar. See cut under Cestoidea.
  • noun [capitalized] [NL.] In conchology, same as Rostellaria.
  • noun The combined mouth-parts of the true lice, of the family Pediculidæ.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A small beaklike process or extension of some part; a small rostrum

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A small beak-like process or extension; a small rostrum.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin, diminutive of rōstrum, beak; see rostrum.]

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Examples

  • The scolex of the organism is globular in shape and features a prominent projection known as a rostellum that is lined with a double row of hooks.

    unknown title 2009

  • The scolex of the organism is globular in shape and features a prominent projection known as a rostellum that is lined with a double row of hooks.

    unknown title 2009

  • The scolex of the organism is globular in shape and features a prominent projection known as a rostellum that is lined with a double row of hooks.

    unknown title 2009

  • The scolex of the organism is globular in shape and features a prominent projection known as a rostellum that is lined with a double row of hooks.

    unknown title 2009

  • The splitting of the rostellum, curiously enough, never happens without insect aid; but if a bristle or needle be passed over it ever so lightly, a stream of sticky, milky fluid exudes, hardens, and the boat-shaped disk, with pollen masses attached, may be withdrawn on the bristle just as the bee removes them with her tongue.

    Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Neltje Blanchan 1891

  • As nectar is already secreted for her in its receptacle, she thrusts her tongue through the channel provided to guide it aright, and by the slight contact with the furrowed rostellum, it splits, and releases a boat-shaped disk standing vertically on its stern in the passage.

    Wild Flowers Worth Knowing Neltje Blanchan 1891

  • When the proboscis has reached the end of the spur, its basal portion depresses the little hinged rostellum that covers the saddle-shaped sticky glands to which the pollen masses (pollinia) are attached.

    Darwinism (1889) Alfred Russel Wallace 1868

  • If you could prove what I only conjectured (from state of utriculi in rostellum and in stigma of Catasetum and Acropera) that the utriculi somehow induce, or are correlated with, penetration of pollen-tubes you will make an important physiological discovery.

    More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 Charles Darwin 1845

  • So in other cases, but I have not completely traced (only seen) that going to the rostellum.

    More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 Charles Darwin 1845

  • By the way, Cephalanthera has single pollen-grains, but this seems to be a case of degradation, for the rostellum is utterly aborted.

    More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 Charles Darwin 1845

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