Bract

Papery (upper) and leafy bracts on hay rattle (Rhinanthus minor). All the "leaves" in this image are bracts.

In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale.

Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves; they may be of a different size, color, shape, or texture. Typically, they also look different from the parts of the flower, such as the petals or sepals.

A plant having bracts is referred to as bracteate[1] or bracteolate, while one that lacks them is referred to as ebracteate[2] or ebracteolate.

  1. ^ "the definition of bracteate". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  2. ^ "Definition of Ebractate". www.greengonzo.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2017-04-27.