peristome noun. ['pɛrɪstǝʊm] Also peristomium [pɛrɪ'stǝʊmɪǝm], pl. -mia [-mɪǝ]. L18.
[mod. Latin peristoma, formed as PERI- + Greek stoma mouth.]
1. Botany. The fringe of small teeth around the mouth of the capsule in mosses. L18.

2. Zoology. The part of the body or body surface surrounding the mouth in various invertebrates, e.g. insects, crustaceans, and hydrozoans; the somite of an earthworm bearing the mouth. M19.

■ peri'stomal,

■ peri'stomial adjectives surrounding the mouth; pertaining to, of the nature of, or having a peristome: L19.

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