və̇ˈlāmən noun
( plural ve·lam·i·na -lamənə)
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, covering, from velare to cover, from velum veil
1. : membrane , velum
2. : the thick whitish or greenish multiseriate corky epidermis covering the aerial roots of an epiphytic orchid and consisting of compactly arranged nonliving cells capable of absorbing water from the atmosphere