Pappeus

Pappeus is not a widely recognized term in standard botanical references and is commonly regarded as a misspelling or variant of the term pappus. In botany, the pappus refers to a structure on the fruit of many flowering plants that facilitates wind dispersal.

The pappus is a modified collection of sepals (the calyx) that remains attached to the fruit after fertilization. It can take several forms, including a tuft of fine hairs (plumose pappus), scales, bristles, or a combination thereof. This diversity in morphology allows different species to adapt dispersal to their environments and seed sizes.

Functionally, the primary role of the pappus is to aid wind-mediated seed dispersal. By catching air currents, the pappus can reduce seed fall velocity and increase the distance seeds travel away from the parent plant, contributing to colonization and gene flow across landscapes. The effectiveness of dispersal depends on pappus form, seed density, weather conditions, and habitat structure.

Ecologically, pappi are common in the Asteraceae family, with well-known examples such as the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), which features a prominent, plumose pappus. Other plants in the family and some related groups exhibit pappus-like structures that serve a similar dispersal function.

Taxonomically, pappus is treated as a morphological feature of the fruit, and terminology can vary across plant lineages. While the term pappus is standard, “pappeus” may appear as a typographical variant in some texts. If you intended a different term, additional context would clarify the appropriate article.