29 October 2018
bract
[brakt]
noun, Botany.
1. a specialized leaf or leaflike part, usually situated at the base of a flower or inflorescence.
Origin of bract
1760-1770; earlier bractea < Latin: a thin plate of metal
Related forms
bracteal [brak-tee-uh l], adjective
bracted, adjective
bractless, adjective
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for bract
Historical Examples
The lower part of the bract forms a sheath which encloses the ovary.
Vegetable Teratology
Maxwell T. Masters
Union of the leaf or bract with the flower-stalk is not uncommon.
Vegetable Teratology
Maxwell T. Masters
Br, The bract devoid of muscles and respiratory in function.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6
Various
Today’s quote
I would rather discover one true cause than gain the kingdom of Persia.
– Democritus
On this day
29 October 529BC – International Day of Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, responsible for the Cyrus Cylinder, which has been called the world’s first charter of human rights. The Cyrus Cylinder praised the munificence of King Cyrus and denounced the conquered Babylonian King Nabodinus as an oppressor of the people. It extols King Cyrus as a benefactor of the people, who liberated them from Nabodinus, repatriated them, restored temples and improved their lives. A copy of the cylinder sits in UN headquarters in New York as an example of early human rights. However, German historians have challenged the Cylinder as being propaganda that Cyrus had ordered be written, so that he appeared better than other leaders, when in fact he committed numerous atrocities when conquering other nations.
29 October 1929 – ‘Black Tuesday’, stock market crash leads to the Great Depression. Investors dumped 16 million shares and the market crashed a further 12%, losing $30 billion in two days.
29 October 1956 – Israel invades Egypt after President Nasser announces he is nationalising the Suez Canal, starting the Suez Crisis.
29 October 1969 – Creation of the ARPANET, predecessor of the internet, when the first host-to-host communication is sent. ARPANET stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network which was operated by the U.S. Department of Defense.
29 October 1982 – Lindy Chamberlain found guilty of murdering her baby daughter, Azaria, after a jury dismissed her claim that a dingo took the baby. Her husband, Michael, was found guilty of being an accessory to the murder. She spent 3 years in jail, before being released. Eight years after the trial, her conviction was overturned. In 1992, her and Michael were acquitted and received $1.3 million in compensation from the Australian government for false imprisonment. There have been four inquests, with the latest being held 2012, with the finding that a dingo did take the baby.