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nectary

 
Dictionary: nec·ta·ry
(nĕk'tə-rē) pronunciation
n., pl., -ries.
A glandlike organ, located outside or within a flower, that secretes nectar.

[New Latin nectārium, from NECTAR.]

nectarial nec·tar'i·al (-târ'ē-əl) adj.

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Biology Q&A: What are nectaries?
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Plants secrete a variety of substances from specialized structures called secretory structures. Nectaries are structures that secrete nectar, a sugary compound that attracts insects, birds, or other animals. Most nectaries are associated with flowers and are called floral nectaries. Nectar is 10 to 50 percent sugar, especially sucrose, glucose, and fructose. Plants usually produce small amounts of nectar, which forces foraging animals to visit several flowers before obtaining a full meal. A single insect or bird can, therefore, pollinate tens or hundreds of plants.

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A gland that contains nectar. It is usually located near the base of a petal or stamen. In the process of securing nectar, a pollinator becomes dusted with pollen, which is then transferred to the next flower it visits.

WordNet: nectary
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a gland (often a protuberance or depression) that secretes nectar
  Synonym: honey gland


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Biology Q&A. The Handy Biology Answer Book. 2004 ©Visible Ink Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Gardener's Dictionary. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more