Ligular sulcus

  • Title

    Ligular sulcus

  • Definition

    A groove or furrow close to the point where the androecial hood begins, i.e., between the appendix-free ligule and the androecial hood.

  • Notes

    In neotropical Lecythidaceae not enough is known about how many species have this character and how much variation it has, i.e., does the ligular sulcus appear in some but not in other individuals of the same species and is it consistent within individuals of a species. There are also different degrees of development in this feature, e.g., Eschweilera cyathiformis has a well-developed ligular sulcus whereas that of Eschweilera micrantha is scarcely developed. The ligular sulcus is developed to such an extent in all species of Couratari that is is called the extermal flap.

  • Related Terms

    Ligule

    Androecial hood

    Appendage-free ligule

    External flap

  • *For more educational content, please visit The Hand Lens and explore our herbarium collections and the stories they tell.