palea

Listen
(pā′lē ə)

noun pl. paleae

  1. the upper, or inner, thin, membranous bract enclosing the flower in grasses
  2. pale (sense )

Origin: ModL < L, chaff < IE base *pel-, to cover, a skin > fell, film

See palea in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pa·le·ae (-lē-ēˌ)
  1. A small chafflike bract enclosing the flower of a grass.
  2. The chaffy scales on the receptacle of a flower head in a plant of the composite family.

Origin:

Origin: Latin, chaff

.

Learn more about palea

palea science

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

Also Mentioned In

pallet

palliasse

Browse entries near palea

Palawan

palazzos

palazzo

pale-dry

Palearctic

paleethnology

paleface

Palembang

Palencia

Palenque

About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Bookmark Site Help Suggestion Box Tools
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.
About YourDictionary Advertisers Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Help
© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.