What is "chalaza"

Chalaza \Cha*la"za\, n.; pl. E. Chalazas, L. Chalaz[ae].

1. (Bot.) The place on an ovule, or seed, where its outer coats cohere with each other and the nucleus.

2. (Biol.) A spiral band of thickened albuminous substance which exists in the white of the bird's egg, and serves to maintain the yolk in its position; the treadle.

n. 1 (context zoology English) One of the two spiral bands which attach the yolk of an egg to the eggshell, suspending it in the egg white. 2 (context botany English) The location where the nucellus attaches to the integuments, opposite the micropyle.

1. n. basal part of a plant ovule opposite the micropyle; where integument and nucellus are joined

2. one of two spiral bands of tissue connecting the egg yolk to the enclosing membrane at either end of the shell

3. [also: chalazae (pl)]

The chalaza (; from Greek "hailstone"; plural chalazas or chalazae) is a structure inside bird and reptile eggs and plant ovules. It attaches or suspends the yolk or nucellus within the larger structure.

Chalaza is a genus of mites in the family Laelapidae.