panicle

American  

[pan-i-kuhl] / ˈpæn ɪ kəl /

noun

Botany.

1. a compound raceme.

2. any loose, diversely branching flower cluster.

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panicle British  

/ ˈpænɪkəl /

noun

1. a compound raceme, occurring esp in grasses

2. any branched inflorescence

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panicle Scientific  

/ păn′ĭ-kəl /

1. A branched indeterminate inflorescence in which the branches are racemes, so that each flower has its own stalk (called a pedicel) attached to the branch. Oats and sorghum have panicles.

2. See illustration at inflorescence

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• panicled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of panicle

1590–1600; < Latin pānicula tuft (on plants), diminutive of pānus thread wound on a bobbin, a swelling, ear of millet < Doric Greek pânos ( Attic pênos ) a web; see -i-, -cle ¹

Example Sentences

Panicle hydrangeas, also known as PeeGee hydrangeas, are easy and reliable.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 23, 2022

Panicle rather narrow with short capillary branches; glumes I and II nerveless.

From A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses by Rangachari, K.

Panicle of smaller size Panic-grasses, various species of Panicum. 20a.

From The Plants of Michigan Simple Keys for the Identification of the Native Seed Plants of the State by Gleason, Henry Allan

Panicle about half as long as the entire plant; leaves copiously hairy Witch Grass, Panicum capillare. 19b.

From The Plants of Michigan Simple Keys for the Identification of the Native Seed Plants of the State by Gleason, Henry Allan

Panicle loose, nodding; spikelets 3–5-flowered; flowers equalling the beard.—Edges of ponds.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa