Strophiole
🔬 Anatomy●●● Advanced
A strophiole is a small fleshy or corky outgrowth that develops on the seed coat next to the hilum in some legumes and other families. It is often oil-rich and attractive to ants. Botanists also use it as a diagnostic character: it is well developed in Cytisus but absent or rudimentary in Genista.
Example
“Under a lens, a seed with a well-developed strophiole shows a wart-like swelling beside its attachment scar.”