arista
/əˈrɪstə/
noun
- A bristle or stiff, hair-like structure, especially on the antenna of an insect or on a plant (such as the beard of a grain).
- Under the microscope, the arista of the fly's antenna looked like a tiny feather.
- Botanists use the presence of an arista to identify certain grass species.
- The arista on the wheat grain helps it attach to animals for seed dispersal.