labellum

noun

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la·bel·lum | \ lə-ˈbe-ləm

plural labella\ lə-ˈbe-lə

Definition of labellum

1 : the median and usually most morphologically distinct member of the corolla of an orchid

2 : a terminal part of the labium or labrum of various insects

Examples of labellum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The sepals, which are pink, petal-like extensions of the flower, look like wings while the lip (or labellum) mimics the body of a bee. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2020 The slipper orchids had brightly colored labellum surrounded by two massive petals and were about the size of a hand, fairly large for an orchid. — Katy Kelleher, Longreads, 9 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'labellum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.