zaadblaasjes

Zaadblaasjes is a Dutch term that may refer to small, bladder-like structures associated with seeds in plants. The expression is not a standard technical term in formal botany, and its exact meaning can vary between sources. Broadly, zaadblaasjes describes vesicle- or sac-like appendages that are attached to or formed around seeds and that resemble tiny bladders.

In morphology, these structures can be hollow or filled with air, mucilage, or oils. They may result from localized tissue growth on the seed coat or surrounding fruit, and they often become visible when seeds are examined under magnification. Possible functions include aiding dispersal by buoyancy in water or light weight for wind transport, providing chemical cues for seed predators, or protecting the seed during dormancy. In some contexts the term is used descriptively rather than as a defined organ name.

Because the term appears mainly in Dutch-language horticultural writing and amateur botany, it is less common in international taxonomic literature. When encountered, it is important to compare with more established concepts in seed biology, such as arils, elaiosomes, pericarp, or seed coats, to understand the actual structure and function in a given species.

See also: aril, elaiosome, seed coat, pericarp, seed dispersal.

References: because the term is informal, consult Dutch horticultural glossaries or plant morphology guides for usage examples.