Bráctea

Bráctea is a modified leaf found at the base of a flower or inflorescence. Often, bracts are brightly colored and resemble petals, serving to attract pollinators. However, they can also be green and indistinguishable from other foliage, or reduced to small, scale-like structures. The term is also used in botany to describe leaf-like structures that subtend floral organs in certain plants. In some species, bracts are persistent and can be quite large, playing a significant role in the overall appearance of the reproductive structure. The arrangement and form of bracts vary widely among different plant families and are often important characteristics for plant identification. For instance, in the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), the showy red structures are not petals but highly modified bracts. Similarly, the "petals" of bougainvillea are actually large, colorful bracts that surround the true, small, tubular flowers. Understanding bracts is crucial for comprehending plant reproductive biology and classification.