Cupule

A cupule is a small, usually cup-shaped structure that surrounds or partially encloses a seed or fruit in various plants. This protective feature can vary significantly in texture and appearance, ranging from a hard, woody structure to a soft, leafy one. Cupules primarily serve to shield the developing seed or fruit from environmental hazards such as physical damage, predation, and desiccation. The morphology of the cupule is often species-specific, providing a valuable characteristic for botanical identification and evolutionary studies. Their presence and characteristics are critical in understanding plant reproductive strategies, and they are also found in fossil records offering critical evidence of evolutionary adaptations.

Cupule meaning with examples

• The acorn's cupule, a tough, scaled structure, cradles the developing nut, protecting it from insects and the elements as it matures on the oak tree.
• In the case of hazelnut trees, the cupule appears as a leafy, fringed husk, aiding in the dispersal of the nut by catching the wind, carrying it further away.
• Paleontologists studied fossilized cupules around ancient seeds to analyze the evolution of protective structures within seed-bearing plants.
• The botanist carefully examined the cupule of the unknown plant, noting its unique arrangement of bracts to help identify the exact species.