— columellar , adj. — columellate /kol'yeuh mel"it, -ayt/ , adj.
/kol'yeuh mel"euh/ , n. , pl. columellae /-mel"ee/ . Biol.
1. -
a. any of various small, columnlike structures of animals or plants; rod or axis.
b. Mycol. a small central column of sterile tissue within the sporangium of certain fungi, liverworts, and mosses.
2. a small bone in the ear of amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
[ 1575-85; colum- (var. of column-, s. of columna COLUMN) + -ella -ELLE ]