Definition of chalaza in English:
chalaza
nounPlural chalazae kəˈleɪzə-ˈlazə
Zoology (in a bird's egg) each of two twisted membranous strips joining the yolk to the ends of the shell.
Example sentencesExamples
- The chalaza in a duck egg is not as noticeable as it is in a chicken egg and the white is more transparent with less yellow coloring.
- In sections of caryopses, greenish yellow fluorescence was observed in the cell walls of the chalaza and the outer layers of the nucellar projection.
- In wheat, evidence was found that a barrier occurred in the chalaza, a small zone of cells between the maternal vascular tissue and the nucellus.
Derivatives
adjective
Zoology In addition, a strong staining was observed in maternal chalazal tissue shortly after fertilization, and persisted throughout seed development.
Example sentencesExamples
- Note the chalazal vascular bundle that encircles about three-quarters of the seed and the two short side branches that contain phloem only.
- The stalk is usually longer, the chalazal scar larger and often oval in outline, and the grooves on the back of the pip parallel to each other.
- No changes in the staining of chalazal cell walls were detected at the end of grain filling.
- It is, furthermore, the case that the embryo sac itself also exhibits polar organization, with the egg cell and synergids adjacent to the micropyle, while the antipodal cells are found at the opposite chalazal end.
Origin
Early 18th century: modern Latin, from Greek khalaza 'small knot'.