Pappus

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pappus \Pap"pus\, n. [L., an old man or grandfather; hence, a
     substance resembling gray hairs, Gr. ?.] (Bot.)
     The hairy or feathery appendage of the achenes of thistles,
     dandelions, and most other plants of the order
     {Composit[ae]}; also, the scales, awns, or bristles which
     represent the calyx in other plants of the same order.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  pappus
       n : calyx composed of scales or bristles or featherlike hairs in
           plants of the Compositae such as thistles and dandelions
       [also: {pappi} (pl)]