aril

Mar. 12th, 2024 07:41 am
prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (Default)
[personal profile] prettygoodword
aril (AR-il) - n., (bot.) a fleshy exterior covering of some seeds that develops after fertilization as an outgrowth from the ovule stalk


Such as the "fruit" of yew berries and pomegranate seeds -- the fleshy covering of a nutmeg or a lychee develops from other structures of the seed, and so sometimes called an arillode or false aril. From New Latin arillus, ultimately from Medieval Latin, arillus, grape seed, after which the trail goes wild, as in every dictionary I've checked has a different etymology for that, though most source it to some non-Latin Italic language.

---L.

Date: 2024-03-12 08:34 pm (UTC)
From: [personal profile] acelightning73
Nutmeg is the aril of a specific fruit, and apparently its color and aroma attract birds to help the plant pollinate. Nutmeg can be psychoactive in large doses; I don't recommend it, it's not an especially pleasant trip.

Date: 2024-03-13 10:29 pm (UTC)
From: [personal profile] acelightning73
Well, that's no fun. And yew is popular for ornamental shrubbery (it grows low to the ground, so it looks good with architecture) in this climate. Birds apparently eat the berries with no adverse effects. Nutmeg isn't exactly toxic, but the experience was more educational than I expected.

Date: 2024-03-14 02:54 am (UTC)
octahedrite: elf girl with a slight smile (Default)
From: [personal profile] octahedrite

I would eat pomegranate arils every day if the darn things weren't such a chore to peel.

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