Squama (pl. = squamae, diminutive = squamella, adj. = squamate)

• Title

  Squama (pl. = squamae, diminutive = squamella, adj. = squamate)

• Definition

  Scale; covered with scales.

• Notes

  In the Lecythidaceae these terms are used to describe the rachis of inflorescences that have horizontally oriented scars and remnants of tissue that look like they were derived from squamae. This is especially apparent in all species of Corythophora, species of the Lecythis poiteaui clade (e.g., L. barnebyi, L. prancei, and L. poiteaui) but they also occur sporadically in other groups, e.g. Allantoma uaupensis, Grias peruviana, Gustavia pulchra and other species of this genus, Eschweilera rhodendrifolia and other species of this genus, and L. brancoensis of the L. chartacea group.

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