arillus
|a-ril-lus|
/əˈrɪləs/
seed covering
Etymology
'arillus' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'arillus', where the suffix '-illus' is a diminutive form attached to a root referring to a small husk or covering.
'arillus' passed into botanical English from Medieval Latin (arillus). The related shorter form 'aril' entered English usage as the common noun, while 'arillus' remains used in formal botanical Latin and technical descriptions.
Initially, it referred generally to a small husk or membrane around a seed; over time it came to denote the specific fleshy or specialized outgrowth of the seed we recognize today.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a specialized outgrowth from a seed, often fleshy or brightly colored, that partly or completely covers the seed and frequently aids in seed dispersal (common in some plants such as nutmegs and pomegranates).
The collectors noted a bright red arillus surrounding each seed of the magnolia.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/14 07:46