raphe

()

noun

  1. Anat. a seamlike joining of the two lateral halves of an organ, as of the tongue
  2. Bot.
    1. a ridge of tissue along the side of an ovule, indicating the position of the vascular bundle which supplies the developing seed
    2. the line of union of the two carpels in the fruit of members of the umbel family
    3. a longitudinal fissure along the center of certain diatom shells

Origin: ModL < Gr rhaphē, seam < rhaptein, to stitch together < IE *werp-, *wrep-, to turn, twist > rhapsody

See raphe in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also rha·phe

noun pl. ra·phae also rha·phae (-fēˌ)
  1. Anatomy A seamlike line or ridge between two similar parts of a body organ, as in the scrotum.
  2. Botany The portion of the funiculus that is united to the ovule wall, commonly visible as a line or ridge on the seed coat.
  3. The median groove of a diatom valve.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin

Origin: , from Greek rhaphē, seam, suture

Origin: , from rhaptein, to sew; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots

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