‖ pollinium Bot.
(pəˈlɪnɪəm)
Pl. -ia.
[mod.L., f. pollen, pollin-, pollen 2 + -ium as in antheridium, archegonium, etc.]
A coherent mass of pollen-grains in each cavity of the anther, characteristic of the Orchidaceæ and Asclepiadaceæ.
| 1862 Darwin Orchids Introd. 5 The pollen-masses, with their caudicles and other appendages, are called the Pollinia. 1863 ― in Life & Lett. (1887) III. 264 He has actually seen crowds of bees flying round Catasetum, with the pollinia sticking to their backs. 1875 Bennett & Dyer Sachs' Bot. 488 Contrivances by means of which insects..extract from the pollen-sac the pollinia or the masses of pollen which are glued together. |