Lappet

A lappet is a decorative flap, fold or hanging part of a headdress or garment. Lappets were a feature of women's headgear until the early 20th century, and are still a feature of religious garments. A bishop's mitre has two lappets (infulæ) sewn to the back of it. The most famous usage of lappets occurs on the Papal Tiara. Lappets also feature on some animals.

On the papal tiara

Each papal tiara since early mediæval times contained two lappets. Their origins remain a mystery, though they are obviously an imitation of the lappets on the bishop's mitre. It has been speculated that lappets first were added to papal tiaras as a form of sweatband, with inner cloth being used to prevent popes from sweating too heavily during papal ceremonial in hot Roman summers.

The two lappets (Latin: caudæ, lit. "tails") at the back of the tiara are first seen in the pictures and sculpture in the thirteenth century, but were undoubtedly customary before this. Strange to say, they were black in color, as is evident both from the monumental remains and from the inventories, and this color was retained even into the fifteenth century.

Gastropacha quercifolia

Gastropacha quercifolia, the lappet, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is found in Europe and Northern and Eastern Asia.

The wingspan is 50–90 mm. The females are larger than the males. The moth flies from June to July depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Crataegus, Prunus spinosa, willow and oak.

Subspecies

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