caruncle
biology
Quick Summary
A caruncle is a biological term with two primary meanings. In zoology, it refers to a naked, fleshy outgrowth, such as a bird's wattle. In botany, a caruncle is an outgrowth found on a seed, located adjacent to the micropyle. The term originates from the Latin word caruncula, meaning "little piece of flesh".1
It is important to distinguish this from "carbuncle," which in medicine refers to a type of bacterial skin infection involving interconnected boils.2
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