In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated

with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scal

e. Bracts are often (but not always) different from foliage leaves. They may be
smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture. Typically, they als
o look different from the parts of the flower, such as the petals and/or sepals.
The state of having bracts is referred to as bracteate, and conversely ebractea
te, without bracts. Similarly bracteolate and ebracteolate.
Contents [hide]
1
Variants
2
Bracteole
3
Involucral bracts
4
Epicalyx
5
Spathe
6
References
Variants[edit]
Some bracts are brightly colored and serve the function of attracting pollinator
s, either together with the perianth or instead of it. Examples of this type of
bract include Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) and Bougainvillea: both of thes
e have large colourful bracts surrounding much smaller, less colourful flowers.
In grasses, each floret (flower) is enclosed in a pair of papery bracts, called
the lemma (lower bract) and palea (upper bract), while each spikelet (group of f
lorets) has a further pair of bracts at its base called glumes. These bracts for
m the chaff removed from cereal grain during threshing and winnowing.
Bats may detect acoustic signals from dish-shaped bracts such as those of Marcgr
avia evenia.[1]
A prophyll is a leaf-like structure, such as a bracteole, subtending (extending
under) a single flower or pedicel. The term can also mean the lower bract on a p
eduncle.
The frequently showy pair of bracts of Euphorbia species in subgenus Lacanthis a
re the cyathophylls.
Bracts subtend the cone scales in the seed cones of many conifers, and in some c
ases, such as Pseudotsuga, they extend beyond the cone scales.
Bracts of Bougainvillea glabra, differ in colour from the non-bract leaves, and
attract pollinators
Bracts along a banana flower stalk surround the rows of flowers
Euphorbia milii var. vulcanii cyathia bearing a pair of pinkish cyathophylls
Colourful bracts of Ananas bracteatus
Bracts, Taraxacum officinale
Dogwood species Cornus florida inflorescence showing four large white bracts and
central flower cluster

Cornus Florida dogwood with pink bracts surrounding small flower cluster
Bracteole[edit]
A small bract is called a bracteole or bractlet. Technically this is any bract t
hat arises on a pedicel instead of subtending it.
Involucral bracts[edit]
Beggar-tick (Bidens comosa)
Bracts that appear in a whorl subtending an inflorescence are collectively calle
d an involucre. An involucre is a common feature beneath the inflorescences of m
any Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Dipsacaceae and Polygonaceae. Each flower in an inflor
escence may have its own whorl of bracts, in this case called an involucel. In t
his case they may be called chaff, paleas, or receptacular bracts and are usuall
y minute scales or bristles. Many asteraceous plants have bracts at the base of
each inflorescence.
The term involucre is also used for a highly conspicuous bract or bract pair at
the base of an inflorescence. In the family Betulaceae, notably in the genera Ca
rpinus and Corylus, the involucre is a leafy structure that protects the develop
ing nuts. Beggar-tick (Bidens comosa) has narrow involucral bracts surrounding e
ach inflorescence, each of which also has a single bract below it. There is then
a pair of leafy bracts on the main stem and below those a pair of leaves.