capitulum

[ kuh-pich-uh-luhm ]

noun

, plural ca·pit·u·la [k, uh, -, pich, -, uh, -l, uh].

1. Biology. any globose or knoblike part, as a flower head or the head of a bone.

capitulum

/ kəˈpɪtjʊləm /

noun

1. a racemose inflorescence in the form of a disc of sessile flowers, the youngest at the centre. It occurs in the daisy and related plants
2. anatomy zoology a headlike part, esp the enlarged knoblike terminal part of a long bone, antenna, etc

capitulum

/ kə-pĭch′ə-ləm /

, Plural capitula

1. A small knob or head-shaped part, such as a protuberance of a bone or the tip of an insect's antenna.
2. An inflorescence consisting of a compact mass of small stalkless flowers, as in the English daisy. The yellow central portion of the capitulum of a daisy consists of disk flowers, while the outer white, petallike structures are actually ray flowers. The capitulum is the characteristic inflorescence of the composite family (Asteraceae) of flowering plants.

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitulum¹

1715–25; < Latin, equivalent to capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ulum, neuter of -ulus -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitulum¹

C18: from Latin, literally: a little head, from caput head

Example Sentences

Capitulum globosum, floridum magnitudine pruni minoris, fructiferum pomum parvum aequans.

From Project Gutenberg

Cirripedia having a carapace, consisting either of a capitulum on a peduncle, or of an operculated shell with a basis.

From Project Gutenberg

Cirripedia quibus pro carapace est aut capitulum pedunculatum, aut testa operculata cum basi.

From Project Gutenberg

Capitulum sine valvis; apertur ampl; pedunculus fimbriatus, sub-globosus, infossus.

From Project Gutenberg

I believe I saw in one specimen, most delicate transverse muscular fibres round the lower part of the elongated capitulum.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brain
• skull