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The lower or apparently anterior petal of an orchidaceous flower, often of a very curious shape.

A fan; especially, the fan carried before the pope on state occasions, made in ostrich and peacock feathers. Shipley.

The median, convex lobe of the head of a trilobite. See Trilobite.

very extensive, but now restricted to such species as the West Indian sea fan (Gorgonia flabellum), sea plume (G. setosa), and other allied species having a flexible, horny axis.

Any orchidaceous plant of the genus Cypripedium, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly, in the United States, the garden balsam (Impatiens Balsamina).

Any gorgonian which branches in a fanlike form, especially Gorgonia flabellum of Florida and the West Indies.

nus's shell. -- Venus's fan (Zoöl.), a common reticulated, fanshaped gorgonia (Gorgonia flabellum) native of Florida and the West Indies. When fresh the color is purple or yellow, or a mixture of the two. -- Venus's flytrap. (Bot.) See Flytrap, 2. -- Venus's girdle (Zoöl.), a long, flat, ribbonlike, very delicate, t…