nectary

/'nektəri/

Thân thiện

A bee visits the nectary of a bright flower.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A nectar-secreting gland in a flower: A nectary is a specialized plant structure, often appearing as a small bump, pit, or hollow, that produces and secretes the sugary fluid known as nectar.

Usage

• The primary function of a nectary is to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the flower.
• Nectaries can be located in various parts of a flower, such as at the base of the petals or within the floral tube.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• Extrafloral nectary: A nectar-secreting gland located on a part of the plant other than the flower, such as on leaves or stems, often to attract ants or other insects that defend the plant from herbivores.
  • The acacia tree uses its extrafloral nectaries to recruit guardian ants.

Variants and Related Words

• Nectar (n): The sweet liquid secreted by a nectary, which is the primary food source for many pollinators.
  • The hummingbird fed on the flower's nectar.

Synonyms

• Honey gland: An alternative, less common term for a nectar-secreting gland.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a gland (often a protuberance or depression) that secretes nectar

Từ đồng nghĩa

• honey gland