(L. vitta: link, ribbon) n. (pl. vittae) An oil tube in fruit (the carpel walls) of some plants, as of the fruits of the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae). A streak or stripe, as of color. A band or ribbon. In liverworts the longitudinal stripe of longer, often thicker-walled cells in a leaf lamina resembling a nerve but only one cell layer thick; e.g. Herbertus. Cf. costa.