kapillaarikärkiä

Kapillaarikärkiä refers to the very fine, hair-like structures found at the tip of certain plant reproductive organs, specifically the pistil of a flower. These delicate filaments are part of the stigma, which is the receptive tip of the pistil where pollen lands. The primary function of kapillaarikärkiä is to increase the surface area of the stigma, thereby enhancing its ability to capture pollen grains from the air or from visiting pollinators.

The structure of kapillaarikärkiä can vary significantly between different plant species. Some may be short and stubby, while others can be long and feathery. This variation often correlates with the plant's pollination strategy. For instance, wind-pollinated plants, like grasses, tend to have more elaborate and extensive kapillaarikärkiä to maximize pollen capture from the wind. Insect-pollinated plants might have stickier stigmas with less pronounced kapillaarikärkiä, relying more on the adhesive properties of the stigmatic surface itself.

The surface of the kapillaarikärkiä is often covered in a sticky secretion or papillae, which further aids in trapping pollen. Once pollen lands on the kapillaarikärkiä, if it is compatible, it will germinate and grow a pollen tube down through the style to reach the ovary, leading to fertilization. The presence and morphology of kapillaarikärkiä are therefore important features in plant reproductive biology and can be used in taxonomic identification.