pyriform

The adhesive patch is made of parallel threads of a coil-shaped silk protein called pyriform silk; fibres made from this protein are highly elastic, like a rubber band.

The pyriform silk is coated with a sticky protein solution.

Small species with a beakless, more or less round or pyriform perigynium, which is commonly glaucous; terminal spike androgynous or all staminate; stigmas mostly 2.—Sp.

Branches clustered; leaves loose, imbricate on the branches, round-ovate, entire; perianth pyriform, slightly compressed and repand, smooth, obscurely carinate beneath and gibbous toward the apex.

Creeping, simply pinnate; leaves concave, obtuse, decurved; lower lobe oblong-clavate, emarginate at base; underleaves oblong, flat, 2-cleft, the sinus obtuse; involucral leaves unequally 2-cleft, the dorsal segment oblong, pointed, nearly entire, the ventral subulate; perianth pyriform, 3-sided, obtusely keeled beneath.