Botanical Nerd Word: Funiculus

Pea pod split open to show developing seeds and funiculi

Funiculus: The stalk by which an ovule or seed is connected to the placenta in the ovary. The funiculus acts like an umbilical cord, supplying the developing ovule and seed with water and nutrients from the parent plant.*

The funiculi attaching each of these developing pea seeds are easy to see along the pod’s midrib. Happy pea season!

*Kesseler, R. & Stuppy, W. (2006). Seeds: Time capsules of life. Buffalo: Firefly Books.