Spur (botany)

As a spur is a hollow sac in flowering plants referred to in the bloom, which extends from the inside of the flower away. It is usually part of the crown, rare part of the calyx, or flower axis.

Petals with spurs for example, have the violets ( Viola ), corydalis ( Corydalis ) or Dicentra. Sepal spurs are rare and occur in about Balsam ( Impatiens ). Nectar sheet with spur occurs at about monkshood ( Aconitum ), perianth when larkspur ( Delphinium ). A spurred base of the flower there in the nasturtium (Tropaeolum ). The spur can also be part of the complete crown - such as toadflax ( Linaria ) - or the calyx tube.

A spur is usually longer than wide. Short hollow formations are usually referred to as ballooning.

Most occur on Spurs at zygomorphic flowers, rarely with radial symmetry, such as columbine (Aquilegia ) or Halenia.

Spurs caused by a locally limited area strong growth of the aphid Amina. There are adjustments to the pollinating insects with sucking or licking - sucking mouthparts and are associated with the production of nectar.

Spurs can on the one hand even be the nectar-producing organs, such as in the columbine (Aquilegia ). However, they can also serve as a nectar reservoir, while the nectar of other organs is formed, such as in the Violet (Viola ), which protrude two appendages of stamens in the spur.

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