ped1cel

[Fr. pédicelle; O. Fr. pedicule, from Lat. pediculum, acc. of pediculus, dim in. of pes (gen it. ped is ) =a foot; Sp. pediculo; Ital. ped i cello.] Botany (pl.): The ultimate ramifications of a peduncle. They bear the flowers. ped-I-çel-lär-i-æ, s. pl. [Lat. pedicell ( us )=a little louse, used here=a little foot; fem. pl. adj. suff. -ariæ.] Zool.: (See extract.) "The Echinoderm at a are furnished with re mark able organs, called pedicel lariæ , which consist, when well-developed, of a tridactyle forceps-that is, one formed of three serrated arms, neatly fitting together, and placed on the summit of a flexible stem moved by muscles. These forceps can seize firmly hold of any object. But there is no doubt that besides removing dirt of all kinds they subserve other functions; and one of these apparently is defense." -Darwin: Orig. of Species (ed. 1885), p. 191.