ta·pe·tum
(t
ə-p
ēt
əm)
n.pl. ta·pe·ta(-t
ə)
1. Botany A nutritive tissue that surrounds certain developing spores, particularly the microspores within an anther.
2. Anatomy a. A reflective membrane in the back of the eye of many animals that are active during low-light conditions.
b. A layer of fibers of the corpus callosum forming the roof of part of the lateral ventricle of the brain.
[Medieval Latin tapētum, coverlet, fromLatin tapēte, *tapētum, from Greek tapēs, tapēt-; see TAPESTRY.]
ta·petal(-pētl)adj.