Fornix
/ˈfɔrnɪks/
Definition
Fornix is a small, scale-like or appendage-like structure found in the throat or tube of the corolla in some flowering plants, particularly members of the Boraginaceae family. It may appear as a crest, fold, pouch, or arched scale and can be positioned between the corolla lobes. Fornices are often distinctly colored and may form a visible ring or central “eye” within the flower.
Function in Plants
- Floral architecture: In many Boraginaceae, the structures occur as a set around the corolla throat, contributing to the characteristic architecture of the flower’s central opening.
- Species identification: Their shape, color, position, and associated structures can provide useful diagnostic characters for distinguishing closely related species and genera.
- Variation in form: They may be entire or divided, prominent or recessed, and sometimes bear additional bodies or projections. In Eremocarya lepida, for example, each fornix can produce transparent bodies that protrude into the corolla throat.
- Pollination context: In some species, the associated structures can interact with pollen within the corolla throat; observations of Eremocarya lepida show pollen grains on fornix bodies after anthesis.
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