A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

pyriformis,-e (adj.B), also piriformis,-e (adj.B): pyriform, piriform; pear-shaped; with the broadest end at the top (remnant of the flower) and the narrow end at the base (attachment to the stem); “obconical [i.e. an inverted cone, broadest at the top], with the sides a little contracted” (Lindley); “resembling a pear in shape” (Jackson); obovoid, i.e. having the form of an egg with the broad end at the apex and tapering toward the base; see turbinatus,-a,-um (adj.A)[ > L. pirum,-i (s.n.II), abl.sg. piro, also pyrum,-i (s.n.II), abl.sg. pyro, pear; cf. pirum,-i (s.f.II), abl.sg. piro, also pyrum,-i (s.f.II), abl.sg. pyro, the pear-tree (Lewis & Short)].

NOTE: both pyriform and turbinate are obconic shapes, with the broadest part at the apex (top), the narrower at the base. A pyriform shape has sides somewhat concave (centripetal), whereas a turbinate shape has the sides somewhat convex (centrifugal).

Where the ‘top’ is is relative: a pear rests on its broad end and its narrow end is attached to the stem.

obpyriformis,-e (adj.B), q.v.: cone-shaped, with the broadest end at the base (remnant of the flower) and the narrow end at the top (attachment to the stem), the sides somewhat concave.

NOTE: obpyriform and obturbinate are more or less conic shapes: broadest at the base, narrowest at the top.

Leptobryum pyriforme [moss], the capsule is broadest toward the mouth (distal end) and narrows toward the attachment to the seta (proximal end); also used of the nodding capsules of mosses in the Bryaceae.

- [moss] “Bryum serpillifolium pellucidum, capsulis pyriformibus. The Pear-headed Bryum, with transparent Mother of Thyme Leafes” (Dillenius).

- [moss] “Bryum palustre complicatum rubens, capsulis turbinatis pendulis. The red Bog Bryum, with plaited Leafes and Pear-shaped pendulous Heads” (Dillenius).

- [moss] “Bryum bulbiforme aureum, calyptra quadrangulari, capsulis piriformibus nutantibus, the Golden bulbed Bryum, with Pear-fashion’d bowing Heads: Little Goldilocks, or Golden Maiden-Hair” (Dillenius).

- [algae] sporas pyriformes ad placentam basalem affìxas gerentia (Agardh), bearing pyriform spores attached to the basal placenta.

- seminibus minutis reniformi-pyriformibus splendenti-spadiceis subtilissime seriato-punctulatis (F. Mueller), with the seeds tiny, kidney-shaped to pyriform, gleaming-spadiceous [i.e. chestnut-brown], very slightly seriate-punctulate [i.e. with tiny punctae in rows].

- [Sphagnum acaulon; moss] Junius operculum habet acuminatum, pellucidum. Id dejicit adultius, & in saccum abit e “luteo rubentem, piriformem, ore paulum contracto, & plerumque “ad alterum latus propiore, plenum polline viridi (Dill.), the younger [sc. Sphagnum] has an acuminate operculum, pellucid. This, the more mature [sc. Sphagnum] casts it down, and transforms into a reddish from yellow [i.e. reddish yellow], pear-shaped sac, with a mouth slightly contracted, and usually nearer to the other side [i.e. to one side], filled with a green powder.

- [moss] theca subaequalis s. pyriformis (C. Mueller), the theca nearly symmetric or [s. = seu] pyriform [i.e. obconic, pear-shaped].

- [Leptogium sphinctrinum; lichen] receptaculum apotheciorum saepe bullato-protrusum vel pyriformi-prominens (Nyl.) the receptacle of the apothecia often bullate-protruded or pyriform-prominent.

- theca pyriformis apophysata, cujus collum stomatibus plerumque praeditum (C.Muell.), the theca is pear-shaped, apophysate [i.e. provided with an apophysis], the neck of which is usually provided with stomates.

obpyriform, the reverse of pear-shaped, i.e. with the broadest part at the base: obpyriformis,-e (adj.B).